<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.

<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                   
<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
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                     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
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                       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
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     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