<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION FOR THE
NINE MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      888,280
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          98,478
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       130,080
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,116,838
<COMMON>                                           151
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      266,919
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            111,324
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 378,394
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           249,859
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             169,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   57,527
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,189
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   335
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 259,284
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,116,838
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      721,192
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            35,945
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     605,155
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     641,100
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         80,092
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,540
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  85,632
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        26,436
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,196
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   59,196
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        23,810
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        9,277
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          98,776
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.99
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.98