<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM NATIONAL FUEL
GAS COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 2,683,391
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 324,271
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 12,497
<OTHER-ASSETS> 216,729
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,236,888
<COMMON> 39,330
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 452,217
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 525,847
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 987,437
0
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 953,622
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 419,502
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 200,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 11,262
0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 665,065
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 3,236,888
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,425,277
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 77,068
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,129,941
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,207,009
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 218,268
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 10,408
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 228,676
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 100,085
<NET-INCOME> 127,207
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 127,207
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 73,877
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 61,781
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 238,246
<EPS-BASIC> 3.25
<EPS-DILUTED> 3.21
</TABLE>