<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS FOR THE 3 MONTHS ENDED JANUARY
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>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      815,270
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,606
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         190,546
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        16,831
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,049,253
<COMMON>                                       234,328
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            150,166
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 384,494
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           361,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    7,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 276,759
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,049,253
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      239,160
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,924
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     180,332
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     200,256
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         38,904
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,290
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  42,194
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,096
<NET-INCOME>                                    34,098
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   34,098
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,947
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          29,094
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0