EXHIBIT 23(a)


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated October 23, 2002 relating to the
financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in National
Fuel Gas Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
2002. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such
Registration Statement.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


Buffalo, New York
December 23, 2002