Exhibit 10.3

FIRST AMENDMENT
TO THE
NISOURCE INC. EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

(EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2004)

     WHEREAS, NiSource Inc. (the “Company”) maintains the NiSource Inc.
Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, effective January 1, 2004 (“Plan”); and

     WHEREAS, the Company has reserved the right, pursuant to Section 11.1 of
the Plan, to amend the Plan and now deems it appropriate to do so in order to
reflect changes in the investment options available under the Plan.

     NOW THEREFORE, Exhibit A to the Plan is hereby amended, effective March 1,
2005, to read as follows:

EXHIBIT A

Investment Options

          Fidelity Based Funds
Contra Fund
  Equity Income Fund   Growth & Income Fund
Growth Company Fund
  Magellan Fund   Small Cap Independence Fund
Europe Fund *
  Overseas Fund   Pacific Basin Fund *
Freedom 2010 Fund
  Freedom 2020 Fund   Freedom 2030 Fund
Freedom 2040 Fund
  Freedom Income Fund   Balanced Fund
Puritan Fund *
  Intermediate Bond Fund   Spartan U.S. Equity Index Fund

      Managed Income Fund

          Non Fidelity Funds

  American Funds EuroPacific Growth Fund    

  Dreyfus Emerging Leaders Fund    

  Janus Small Cap Value Inst. Fund    

  Morgan Stanley IFT U.S. Small Cap Core Fund    

  PIMCO Long Term Gov’t Fund    

  PIMCO Low Duration Fund    

  PIMCO Total Return Fund Inst.    

  PIMCO StocksPLUS Fund Inst.    

  Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund *    

  Money Market Fund    

 

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*   Closed to new investments effective March 1, 2005.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this First Amendment to be
executed on its behalf, by its officer duly authorized, this 28th day of
January, 2005.

            NISOURCE INC.
      By:   /s/ S. LaNette Zimmerman                    

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