<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> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 920,250
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 15,131
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 112,321
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 94,511
<OTHER-ASSETS> 51,060
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,193,273
<COMMON> 79,831
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 237,348
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 122,026
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 439,205
34,000
0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 376,022
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 72,488
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 30,000
750
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 912
<LEASES-CURRENT> 613
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 239,283
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 1,193,273
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 333,900
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 14,772
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 270,865
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 285,637
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 48,263
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 5,877
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 54,140
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 24,900
<NET-INCOME> 29,240
1,858
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 27,392
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 23,393
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 22,128
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 51,921
<EPS-BASIC> (0.22)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.22)
</TABLE>
