<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NATIONAL FUEL
GAS COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 2,662,570
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 314,092
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 11,341
<OTHER-ASSETS> 221,165
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,209,168
<COMMON> 39,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 448,115
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 542,474
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,011,144
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 958,327
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 318,774
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 200,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 12,646
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 708,277
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,209,168
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,175,999
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 73,839
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 910,806
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 984,645
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 191,354
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 7,636
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 198,990
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 71,746
<NET-INCOME> 124,989
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 124,989
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 55,032
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 261,011
<EPS-BASIC> 3.20
<EPS-DILUTED> 3.17
</TABLE>