
<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000766829
<NAME> SJW CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      234,784
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      7,287
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          20,869
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                             0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  33,596
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 296,536
<COMMON>                                         9,907
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       19,235
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             90,887
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 120,029
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            75,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    1,500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 100,007
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  296,536
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      102,593
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,066
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      75,921
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      84,987
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         17,606
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,846
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  24,452
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,892
<NET-INCOME>                                    18,560
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   18,560
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,163
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        5,892
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          16,074
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     5.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     5.75



</TABLE>
