<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS COMPANY, INC. FOR THE NINE MONTHS
ENDED JULY 31, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUL-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      903,312
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,284
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         138,605
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        21,918
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,090,119
<COMMON>                                       259,228
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            176,168
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 435,396
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           389,000
<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>                 255,723
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,090,119
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      675,836
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            39,312
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     549,822
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     589,134
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         86,702
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               2,840
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  89,542
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        25,733
<NET-INCOME>                                    63,809
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   63,809
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        26,825
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         154,877
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.14
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0