<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
financial statements of NiSource Inc. for six 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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                                    DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                       APR-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                         JUN-30-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                            PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                              4,752,039
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                              467,425
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                   610,074
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                                 224,291
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                           348,062
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                         6,401,891
<COMMON>                                                                 415,290
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                                171,412
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                      782,425
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                         1,369,127
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                     55,185
<PREFERRED>                                                               85,612
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                     484,600
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                       189,466
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                              1,359,772
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                           304,527
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                            163,426
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                                  1,828
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                                    0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                               0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                         2,388,348
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                          6,401,891
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                                680,746
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                      11,656
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               599,121
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                               599,121
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                                   81,625
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                           782
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                            82,407
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                (47,807)
<NET-INCOME>                                                              22,944
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                    0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                             22,944
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                                  28,894
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                      0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                                    23,951
<EPS-BASIC>                                                               0.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                               0.18


</TABLE>