<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. FOR THE THREE MONTHS
ENDED JANUARY 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      873,041
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,633
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         209,059
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        18,770
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,127,503
<COMMON>                                       251,658
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            167,898
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 419,556
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           391,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              26,000
<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>                 280,947
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,127,503
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      312,533
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,521
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     246,625
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     269,146
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         43,387
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,562
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  45,949
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,637
<NET-INCOME>                                    37,312
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   37,312
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         8,597
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          44,139
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.26
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0