<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
consolidated financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000073020
<NAME> NORTHWEST NATURAL GAS COMPANY
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 910,162
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 16,542
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 100,563
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 93,850
<OTHER-ASSETS> 51,060
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,172,177
<COMMON> 79,750
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 236,597
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 135,580
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 451,927
34,000
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 396,080
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 10,307
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 10,000
793
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 948
<LEASES-CURRENT> 556
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 267,566
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,172,177
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 272,713
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 17,717
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 208,942
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 226,659
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 46,054
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 4,572
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 50,626
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 16,501
<NET-INCOME> 34,125
1,244
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 32,881
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 15,585
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 14,920
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 103,445
<EPS-BASIC> 0.07
<EPS-DILUTED> 0.07
</TABLE>
