<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM PIEDMONT
NATURAL GAS COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DATED APRIL 30, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      927,360
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,591
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         190,354
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        23,030
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,167,335
<COMMON>                                       272,070
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            214,841
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 486,911
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           381,000
<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>                 289,424
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,167,335
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      574,732
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            47,588
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     437,224
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     484,812
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         89,920
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,476
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  93,396
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,684
<NET-INCOME>                                    76,712
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   76,712
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,121
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         127,827
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     2.53
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.50