<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                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999             DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-1999             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1999             SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK                PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,350,900               4,350,900
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    807,800                 807,800
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       1,151,400               1,151,400
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       225,900                 225,900
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 351,600                 351,600
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,887,600               6,887,600
<COMMON>                                           800                     800
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,605,600               1,605,600
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            552,800                 552,800
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,996,400               1,996,400
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                          0                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,951,300               1,951,300
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0                       0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0                       0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 521,200                 521,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                      400                     400
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0                       0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      2,900                   2,900
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,939,900               2,939,900
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,887,600               6,887,600
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      549,300               2,678,500
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           (6,500)                  89,500
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     517,400               2,295,300
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     517,400               2,295,300
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         31,900                 383,200
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               4,500                  14,700
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  36,400                 397,900
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        42,100                 116,700
<NET-INCOME>                                   (9,700)                 166,800
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  (9,700)                 166,800
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        18,400                  53,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       34,400                 103,900
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       (151,700)                 548,300
<EPS-BASIC>                                     (0.12)                    2.02
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   (0.12)                    2.01


</TABLE>