<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.


<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                           
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                                OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                  JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       2,327,021
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            258,006
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           13,736
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    228,401
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  2,827,164
<COMMON>                                                           38,751
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         428,273
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               486,099
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                    943,669
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                              726,272
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                218,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    132,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                     159,696
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    646,527
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   2,827,164
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       1,072,484
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               60,327
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        840,529
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        900,856
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           171,628
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  7,901
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    179,529
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           66,385
<NET-INCOME>                                                      110,604
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     110,604
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           52,617
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            248,024
<EPS-BASIC>                                                          2.86
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        2.84