<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<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 THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      253,553
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,390
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          44,323
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        13,237
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 313,503
<COMMON>                                        10,824
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       93,972
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              8,621
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 113,417
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,630
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           101,550
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               1,250
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   4,944
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  85,712
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  313,503
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       64,971
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             3,597
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      52,596
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      52,596
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         12,375
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                  22
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  12,397
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,352
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,448
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        128
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,320
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         (2,714)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.59
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.59