1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 4, 1998 CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 1-3196 13- 0596475 (State of incorporation) (Commission (IRS Employer File Number) Identification No.) CNG Tower, 625 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222- 3199 (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (412) 690-1000 Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) 2 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On March 3, 1998, Consolidated Natural Gas Company issued a press release concerning the acceptance of a bid by substantially all the owners of Epic Energy Pty. Ltd to purchase a 925 mile pipeline being privatized by the state government of Western Australia. Consolidated will indirectly own a one-third interest in Epic Western Australia Trust expected to be established to acquire the pipeline. A copy of the press release is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this filing as Exhibits 1 hereto. 3 SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY ________________________________ (Registrant) By D. M. WESTFALL ______________________________ (D. M. Westfall) Senior Vice President March 4, 1998 and Chief Financial Officer