Exhibit 23.1


                                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We  hereby  consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of our report dated October 27, 1995  appearing on page 46
of National  Fuel Gas  Company's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
September 30, 1995.


/s/Price Waterhouse LLP


Buffalo, New York
April 30, 1996