<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
     This schedule contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
financial  statements of Northern  Indiana  NiSource Inc. for three months ended
March 31, 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-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                                                  JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                    MAR-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                                       PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                                         4,742,835
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                                         306,146
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                                              661,920
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                                            213,036
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                                      302,467
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                    6,226,404
<COMMON>                                                            411,362
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                                           170,111
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                                                 790,142
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                                    1,371,615
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                56,435
<PREFERRED>                                                          85,613
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                                                484,600
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                                  135,773
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                                         1,482,800
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                                      114,200
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                                        39,122
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                                             1,828
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                                               0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                                          0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                                    2,454,418
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                                     6,226,404
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                                           891,492
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                                 44,922
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                          735,583
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                                          735,583
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                                             155,909
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                                    7,084
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                                      162,993
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                           (42,512)
<NET-INCOME>                                                         76,559
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                               0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                                        76,559
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                                             30,114
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                                                 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                                              287,353
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                          0.62
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                          0.62
        

</TABLE>