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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> OPUR1
<CIK> 0000022099
<NAME> THE COLUMBIA GAS SYSTEM, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    3,786,900               3,786,900
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    550,100                 550,100
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,249,000               1,249,000
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        70,800                  70,800
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 391,200                 391,200
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,048,000               6,048,000
<COMMON>                                       554,400                 554,400
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      748,800                 748,800
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            420,900                 420,900
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,723,000               1,723,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         2,003,500               2,003,500
<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>                      2,800                   2,800
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,321,500               2,321,500
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,048,000               6,048,000
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      995,000               3,333,400
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                               100                  85,500
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     965,300               2,962,800
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     965,300               2,962,800
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,700                 370,600
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               7,500                  27,900
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  37,200                 398,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        37,000                 115,300
<NET-INCOME>                                       100                 197,700
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                      100                 197,700
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0.23                    0.65
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       35,100                 105,300
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          16,600                 582,100
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0                    3.57
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0                    3.56
        

</TABLE>