Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) and (c)
Registration Statement No. 33-36868
Prospectus Supplement dated September 15, 1996
CUSTOMER STOCK PURCHASE PLAN of
 NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY
 Supplement to Prospectus dated
May 20, 1991
The following supplements the "Description of Common Stock" on pages 10 and
11 of the Prospectus.
SUMMARY OF RIGHTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
On June 13, 1996, the Board of Directors of National Fuel Gas Company (the "Company") declared a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock, $1.00 par value, of the Company (the "Common Stock") to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 1996 (the "Record Date"). The Rights are to be issued pursuant to a shareholder rights plan which was approved by the Board of Directors on March 19, 1996. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one-half of one share of Common Stock at a price of $130 per share (the "Purchase Price"), being $65.00 per half share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated June 12, 1996 (the "Rights Agreement") between the Company and Marine Midland Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Distribution Date; Transfer of Rights. Until the earlier to occur of (i) ten days following the date (the "Shares Acquisition Date") of the public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of Common Stock or other voting securities ("Voting Stock") that have 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock or (ii) ten days following the commencement or announcement of an intention to make a tender offer or exchange offer, the consummation of which would result in such person acquiring, or obtaining the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of Voting Stock having 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Company's Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Stock certificate. The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Company's Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of the Company's Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any of the Company's Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the Record Date will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Company's Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire at the close of Business on July 31, 2006, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
Exercise of Rights for Common Stock of the Company. At any time following the Distribution Date, each holder of a Right will have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right then in effect. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.

Exercise of Rights for Shares of the Acquiring Company. In the event that, at any time following the Shares Acquisition Date, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power are sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except those Rights held by an Acquiring Person which have become void) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right then in effect.

Adjustments to Purchase Price. The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock (or other securities, as the case may be) issuable upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase shares of the Common Stock or convertible securities at less than the then current market price of the Common Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in the Common Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above). Prior to the Distribution Date, the Board of Directors of the Company may make such equitable adjustments as it deems appropriate under the circumstances in lieu of any adjustment otherwise required by the foregoing.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until the earlier of (i) three years from the date of the event giving rise to such adjustment or (ii) the time at which cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Redemption and Exchange of Rights. At any time prior to 5:00 P.M. Buffalo, New York time on the tenth day following the Shares Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"), payable in cash or stock. Under certain circumstances set forth in the Rights Agreement, the decision to redeem shall require the concurrence of a majority of the Independent Directors. Immediately upon the action of the Board of Directors of the Company electing to redeem the Rights with, if required, the concurrence of the Independent Directors, the Company shall make announcement thereof, and upon such action, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
At any time after the occurrence of the event set forth under the heading "Exercise of Rights for Common Stock of the Company" above, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person, which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, and/or other securities, cash or other assets deemed to have the same value as one share of Common Stock, per Right, subject to adjustment.
Until a Right is exercised or exchanged for Common Stock, the Rights themselves will not give the holder thereof any rights as a stockholder of the Company such as the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock or other consideration of the Company or for the stock of the Acquiring Person as set forth above, or are exchanged as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Amendments to Terms of the Rights. Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors of the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights prior to the Distribution Date. Thereafter, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board of Directors in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, or to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the interest of any Acquiring Person); provided, however, that no supplement or amendment may be made on or after the Distribution Date which changes those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the Rights. The Board of Directors may also, with the concurrence of a majority of the Independent Directors, extend the redemption period for up to an additional 20 days.
The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without conditioning the offer on the Rights being redeemed or a substantial number of Rights being acquired. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board of Directors of the Company.
The term "Independent Directors" means any member of the Board of Directors of the Company who was a member of the Board prior to the date of the Rights Agreement, and any person who is subsequently elected to the Board if such person is recommended or approved by a majority of the Independent Directors but shall not include an Acquiring Person or any representative thereof.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an Exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated June 13, 1996. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by this reference.