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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CEG
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1998             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER BOOK                PER BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,902,400               3,902,400
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    560,700                 560,700
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,379,300               1,379,300
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        76,600                  76,600
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 383,000                 383,000
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,302,000               6,302,000
<COMMON>                                       833,700                 833,700
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      758,300                 758,300
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            344,000                 344,000
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,935,000               1,935,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,002,200               2,002,200
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  45,900                  45,900
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      300                     300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,100                   2,100
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,364,800               2,364,800
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,302,000               6,302,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,326,800               3,174,200
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            12,800                  80,200
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,255,900               2,849,100
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,255,900               2,849,100
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         70,900                 325,100
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               3,200                   5,500
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  74,100                 330,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        38,500                  80,100
<NET-INCOME>                                    22,800                 170,300
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,800                 170,300
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        17,300                  31,100
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,100                  70,200
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         120,400                 552,200
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.27                    2.04
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.27                    2.03
        

</TABLE>