<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS FOR THE SIX MONTHS
ENDED APRIL 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             NOV-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      989,527
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     25,932
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         150,068
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        26,313
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               1,191,840
<COMMON>                                       289,175
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            233,102
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 522,277
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           371,000
<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>                 288,563
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                1,191,840
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      494,989
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            47,806
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     357,475
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     405,281
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         89,708
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,791
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  91,499
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,268
<NET-INCOME>                                    75,231
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   75,231
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        20,688
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         102,773
<EPS-BASIC>                                     2.44
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     2.42