<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>                                                 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                             SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                                OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                  JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                     PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                       2,662,570
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                             0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            314,092
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                           21,955
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                    221,165
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  3,219,782
<COMMON>                                                           39,223
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         448,115
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                               547,872
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                  1,016,542
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                              958,327
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                318,774
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                               0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                    200,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                      12,646
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                               0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                             0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                        0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    713,493
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                   3,219,782
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                       1,184,555
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                               76,997
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        910,806
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                        987,803
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                           196,752
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                  7,636
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                    204,388
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           71,746
<NET-INCOME>                                                      130,387
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                     130,387
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                           55,032
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                               0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                            261,011
<EPS-BASIC>                                                          3.34
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        3.30