<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CEG
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,095,500
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    675,800
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,780,500
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        85,500
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 391,400
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,968,700
<COMMON>                                       835,100
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      761,800
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            409,500
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               2,005,300
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,003,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 144,800
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      400
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      3,100
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,960,300
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,968,700
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    6,568,200
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           131,800
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   6,028,200
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   6,028,200
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        540,000
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              13,400
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 553,400
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       152,400
<NET-INCOME>                                   269,200
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  269,200
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        63,900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      140,400
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         761,700
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     3.23
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     3.21