<ARTICLE> UT <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION INCLUDED IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2000, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000 <PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000 <BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK <TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 282,363 <OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 677 <TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 53,698 <TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 7,068 <OTHER-ASSETS> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 343,806 <COMMON> 11,045 <CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 97,380 <RETAINED-EARNINGS> 18,174 <TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 126,599 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 62 <PREFERRED> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 125,000 <SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0 <LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0 <COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 0 <PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT> 0 <CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0 <LEASES-CURRENT> 0 <OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 92,145 <TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 343,806 <GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 162,621 <INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> 10,064 <OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 129,781 <TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 129,781 <OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 32,840 <OTHER-INCOME-NET> 292 <INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 23,068 <TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 5,560 <NET-INCOME> 17,508 <PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 2 <EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> 17,506 <COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 5,302 <TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0 <CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 25,674 <EPS-BASIC> 1.58 <EPS-DILUTED> 1.58