<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 JUNE 30, 1998 AND
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      274,412
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,841
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          26,054
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        10,317
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 312,624
<COMMON>                                        11,045
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       97,381
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              7,621
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 116,047
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,408
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           110,650
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               4,482
<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>                  65,037
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  312,624
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      163,527
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,852
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     137,988
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     137,988
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         25,539
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 322
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  19,009
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         7,621
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,388
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        373
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,015
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         7,947
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          34,851
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.00
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.00