<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 PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      279,409
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      1,537
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          40,957
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                         9,541
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 331,444
<COMMON>                                        11,045
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       97,380
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              6,983
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 115,408
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            6,186
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           110,650
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              23,713
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                75,487
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                       0
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  331,444
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                       62,917
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             4,062
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      49,479
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      49,479
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         13,438
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                   0
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  13,438
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         2,622
<NET-INCOME>                                     6,754
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        123
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                    6,631
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         2,650
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                           (140)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.60
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.60