<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED MARCH 31, 1996 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      387,379
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          85,900
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        36,186
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 509,465
<COMMON>                                            80
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      109,073
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             72,352
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 181,505
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           125,303
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              26,100
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    6,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,602
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   225
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 167,730
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  509,465
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      321,572
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            15,563
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     270,892
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     286,455
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         35,117
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  15
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  35,132
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,516
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,616
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   27,616
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,562
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                          810
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          57,134
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.75
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.75