<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JULY 31,
1996, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      845,406
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,970
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         115,994
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        16,195
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,004,565
<COMMON>                                       242,855
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            157,385
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 400,240
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           357,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 237,325
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,004,565
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      594,376
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            34,206
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     483,300
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     517,506
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         76,870
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,877
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  81,747
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        23,524
<NET-INCOME>                                    58,223
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   58,223
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        24,853
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          70,959
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0