<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
financial statements of NiSource Inc. for three months ended September 30, 2000,
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>                                         JUL-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                           SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                              PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                4,773,669
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                327,670
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                   1,344,719
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                         0
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                             638,109
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                           7,084,167
<COMMON>                                                   354,865
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                  163,248
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                        833,952
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                           1,352,065
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                       52,180
<PREFERRED>                                                 83,631
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                       407,670
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                         335,108
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                1,507,320
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                             413,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                               89,420
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                        0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                      0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                           2,843,273
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                            7,084,167
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                1,005,546
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                        52,005
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 898,226
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                 898,226
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                    107,320
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                          54,074
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                             161,394
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    50,161
<NET-INCOME>                                                59,228
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                  7,228
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                               52,000
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                    32,260
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                        0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                        (965)
<EPS-BASIC>                                                   0.43
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                 0.42


</TABLE>