<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
        THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED
        STATEMENTS OF INCOME, CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS, AND CONSOLIDATED
        STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS, AND QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
        SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000077385
<NAME> PEOPLES ENERGY CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000

<S>                                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                         YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                     SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-START>                                        OCT-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                          SEP-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                          PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                 1,519,836
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                 130,629
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                      365,520
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                     24,252
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                               59,927
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                            2,100,164
<COMMON>                                                    296,712
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                         0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                         472,018
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                              768,730
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                             0
<PREFERRED>                                                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                        521,734
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                              129,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                     0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                         0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                       0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                              680,700
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                             2,100,164
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                 1,194,381
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                1,038,367
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                1,038,367
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     156,014
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                           28,714
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              184,728
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     39,511
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                         52,581
<NET-INCOME>                                                 92,636
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                       0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                92,636
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                     68,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                    35,214
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      183,631
<EPS-BASIC>                                                  2.61
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                  2.61



</TABLE>