<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CEG
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,428,600
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    787,000
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,106,100
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       181,400
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 353,700
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,856,800
<COMMON>                                           800
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,612,100
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            718,300
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,157,900
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,639,600
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 178,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  312,300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,700
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,569,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,856,800
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,254,800
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            89,400
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     398,200
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     971,400
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        283,400
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,400
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 284,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        45,700
<NET-INCOME>                                   149,700
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  149,700
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        18,300
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,100
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         409,500
<EPS-BASIC>                                       1.84
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.83