<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 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>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      829,866
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,744
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         166,262
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        15,293
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,038,165
<COMMON>                                       237,852
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            174,196
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 412,048
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           361,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<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>                 258,117
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,038,165
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      498,632
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            39,508
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     382,333
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     421,841
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         76,791
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               5,451
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  82,242
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        15,693
<NET-INCOME>                                    66,549
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   66,549
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,367
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          95,988
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.30
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0