<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF CASCADE NATURAL GAS CORPORATION INCLUDED IN
THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      272,325
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,019
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          34,966
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        10,678
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 319,988
<COMMON>                                        11,045
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       97,381
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             11,060
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 119,486
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,406
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           111,150
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                   1,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                  71,946
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  319,988
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      126,532
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,221
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     102,361
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     102,361
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         24,171
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 202
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  17,152
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         5,101
<NET-INCOME>                                    12,051
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        249
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,802
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         5,295
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          30,510
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.07
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.07