WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> THE COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,583,400               3,583,400
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    467,700                 467,700
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,030,200               1,030,200
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        47,900                  47,900
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 420,900                 420,900
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               5,550,100               5,550,100
<COMMON>                                       522,100                 522,100
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      741,200                 741,200
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            199,300                 199,300
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,491,100               1,491,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,004,000               2,004,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0                       0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,600                   2,600
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,055,000               2,055,000
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                5,550,100               5,550,100
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      450,800               2,236,200
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (2,600)                  86,000
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     429,900               1,901,100
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     429,900               1,901,100
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         20,900                 335,100
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              22,300                  39,100
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  43,200                 374,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        51,900                 134,800
<NET-INCOME>                                   (6,100)                 153,400
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (6,100)                 153,400
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0.15                    0.45
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,104                 105,312
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (76,700)                 477,500
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   (0.11)                    2.87
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.11)                    2.87
        

</TABLE>