<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE> UT

<LEGEND>

     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
financial  statements of NiSource Inc. for three months ended June 30, 1999, and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>    1,000

<S>                                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                      DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                         APR-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                           JUN-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                4,773,207
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                641,649
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   1,113,081
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                         0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                             665,738
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           7,193,675
<COMMON>                                                   352,313
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  163,082
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        815,164
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           1,330,559
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       52,480
<PREFERRED>                                                 83,631
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       408,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                         302,109
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                1,507,320
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             408,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               74,568
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           3,026,508
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            7,193,675
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                  922,971
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        12,903
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 833,624
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 833,624
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                     89,347
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                          (4,498)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                              71,946
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    48,533
<NET-INCOME>                                                23,413
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                      0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               23,413
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    32,260
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                      (4,926)
<EPS-BASIC>                                                   0.19
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.18


</TABLE>