<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Indiana Gas
Company, Inc.'s consoldiated financial statements as of December 31, 1996, and
for the three months then ended and is qualified in its entirety by reference to
such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      595,438
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         31
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         139,743
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        15,716
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 750,928
<COMMON>                                       142,995
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            148,458
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 291,453
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           139,733
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              63,000
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   35,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 221,742
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  750,928
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      172,481
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             9,868
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     142,353
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     152,221
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         20,260
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 444
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  20,704
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         4,285
<NET-INCOME>                                    16,419
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   16,419
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                         6,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        3,492
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                        (14,386)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0