<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
JANUARY 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      975,694
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     26,078
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         231,564
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        28,412
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,261,748
<COMMON>                                       285,084
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            209,109
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 494,193
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           371,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              64,000
<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>                 322,555
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,261,748
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      255,742
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            25,543
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     182,693
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     208,236
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,506
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,343
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  48,849
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,285
<NET-INCOME>                                    40,564
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   40,564
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        10,014
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          (4,803)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.32
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.31