<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF UTILX CORPORATION FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1999             MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998             APR-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<CASH>                                             670                     670
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   13,923                  13,923
<ALLOWANCES>                                       487                     487
<INVENTORY>                                      8,253                   8,253
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                23,188                  23,188
<PP&E>                                          39,468                  39,468
<DEPRECIATION>                                  26,013                  26,012
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  37,021                  37,021
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           14,555                  14,555
<BONDS>                                          3,374                   3,374
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<COMMON>                                            74                      74
<OTHER-SE>                                      19,018                  19,018
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    37,021                  37,021
<SALES>                                         17,065                  57,974
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                17,065                  57,974
<CGS>                                           17,822                  55,722
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   20,712                  63,246
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                   210                      47
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 130                     473
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                (3,857)                 (5,744)
<INCOME-TAX>                                         0                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            (3,857)                 (5,744)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   (3,857)                 (5,744)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.52)                  (0.77)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.52)                  (0.77)
        

</TABLE>