<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, INCLUDED
IN THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1996, AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      245,832
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,762
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          24,765
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        17,389
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 290,748
<COMMON>                                         9,250
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       72,628
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              9,621
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                  91,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,851
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           102,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              16,500
<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>                  73,798
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  290,748
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      101,081
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,110
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      87,983
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      87,983
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         13,098
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                (51)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  13,101
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,923
<NET-INCOME>                                     5,014
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        262
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    4,752
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         4,427
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          32,832
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.52