<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> 21,955
<OTHER-ASSETS> 221,165
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,219,782
<COMMON> 39,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 448,115
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 547,872
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 1,016,542
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> 713,493
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,219,782
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,184,555
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 76,997
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 910,806
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 987,803
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 196,752
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 7,636
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 204,388
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 71,746
<NET-INCOME> 130,387
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 130,387
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 55,032
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 261,011
<EPS-BASIC> 3.34
<EPS-DILUTED> 3.30
</TABLE>