<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000014525
<NAME> THE BROOKLYN UNION GAS COMPANY
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    1,368,563
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    556,800
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         387,421
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       131,144
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               2,443,928
<COMMON>                                        16,801
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      548,092
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            428,415
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 993,308
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      6,300
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           733,571
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                          300
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 710,449
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                2,443,928
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,283,001
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            63,275
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,059,596
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,122,871
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        160,130
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 704
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 160,834
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        33,403
<NET-INCOME>                                   127,431
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        233
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  127,198
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        54,990
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       28,750
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         253,262
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.54