<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION FOR THE THREE
MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      372,638
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          90,894
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        35,961
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 499,493
<COMMON>                                            80
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      108,252
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             57,792
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 166,124
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,303
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              40,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   13,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,648
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   207
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 151,511
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  499,493
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      130,468
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             5,195
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     112,328
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     117,523
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,945
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 160
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  13,105
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         3,872
<NET-INCOME>                                     9,233
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    9,233
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         3,739
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          405
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          11,614
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .59