<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CEG
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1998             SEP-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,991,100               3,991,100
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    560,500                 560,500
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,421,300               1,421,300
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        84,200                  84,200
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 374,500                 374,500
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,431,600               6,431,600
<COMMON>                                       834,500                 834,500
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      760,200                 760,200
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            338,500                 338,500
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,932,100               1,932,100
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,002,100               2,002,100
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  97,700                  97,700
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      300                     300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,000                   2,000
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,497,400               2,497,400
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,431,600               6,431,600
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,460,600               4,634,800
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             6,300                  86,500
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,406,500               4,255,600
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,406,500               4,255,600
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         54,100                 379,200
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,800                   9,300
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  57,900                 388,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        40,400                 120,500
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,200                 181,500
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,200                 181,500
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        16,700                  47,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,100                 105,300
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          79,900                 632,100
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .13                    2.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .13                    2.17
        

</TABLE>