<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.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                             12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                       OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                         SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                              2,248,137
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                    0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   210,517
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                   8,619
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                           217,186
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                         2,684,459
<COMMON>                                                  38,469
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                416,239
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                      428,112
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           890,085
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                                    0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                     692,669
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                       196,300
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                      0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                           130,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                  0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                      0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           775,405
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                          2,684,459
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                              1,248,000
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                      24,024
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             1,140,045
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                             1,164,069
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                   83,931
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                        35,870
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                           119,801
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  85,284
<NET-INCOME>                                              23,188
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                             23,188
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  67,671
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                 47,767
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                   252,978
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                               0.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               0.60