<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.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                                                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                      6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                  SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                     OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                       MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                            2,377,824
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                                  0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                 334,150
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                13,523
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                         222,054
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                       2,947,551
<COMMON>                                                                39,111
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                              444,029
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                    552,198
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                       1,015,684
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                        0
<PREFERRED>                                                                  0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                   960,734
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                      74,029
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                                    0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                         199,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                           12,549
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                    0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                  0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         685,355
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                        2,947,551
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                              894,798
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                    62,516
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             670,971
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                             733,487
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                161,311
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                       5,365
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                         166,676
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                48,081
<NET-INCOME>                                                           115,919
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                          115,919
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                36,238
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                    0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                 184,970
<EPS-BASIC>                                                               2.97
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                             2.94