<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF ATMOS ENERGY CORPORATION
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      924,204
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         201,098
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       120,751
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,246,053
<COMMON>                                           153
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      278,174
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            106,509
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 384,836
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           390,426
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              55,200
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 112,794
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   17,961
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      3,343
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                   393
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 281,100
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,246,053
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      210,227
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             8,955
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     178,539
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     187,494
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         22,733
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,720
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  24,453
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         9,073
<NET-INCOME>                                    15,380
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   15,380
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,392
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,025
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (20,847)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .51
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .50