<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> THE COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CGS
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 422,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,057,000
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<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,114,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
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<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,004,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
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<NET-INCOME>                                 (360,700)
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<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                (360,700)
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<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (7.15)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (7.15)