<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000072596
<NAME> NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL GAS CORP.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C> <C> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS OTHER OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000 DEC-31-1999 JUL-14-1999
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-2000 JUL-15-1999 OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 DEC-31-1999 JUL-14-1999
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK PER-BOOK PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 261,637 259,184 248,490
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 11,173 11,170 8,323
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 39,964 49,023 40,957
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 245,887 248,059 2,568
<OTHER-ASSETS> 0 0 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 558,661 567,436 300,338
<COMMON> 0 0 25,590
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 365,102 363,723 37,651
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 10,228 1,379 63,315
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 375,330 365,102 126,556
0 0 0
0 0 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 0 0 52,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 110,263 134,983 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 0 47,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 0 0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 0 2,500
0 0 0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 0 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0 0 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 73,068 67,351 71,782
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 558,661 567,436 300,338
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 81,956 101,504 169,787
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 6,438 2,761 10,137
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 64,340 94,745 145,702
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 70,778 97,506 155,839
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 17,616 6,759 24,085
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 318 730 324
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 17,934 7,489 24,409
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,268 3,349 3,589
<NET-INCOME> 10,228 1,379 10,683
0 0 0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 10,228 1,379 10,683
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 0 0 0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 0 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 32,281 (11,632) 25,618
<EPS-BASIC> 102,280 13,790 1.05
<EPS-DILUTED> 102,280 13,790 1.05
</TABLE>