<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Indiana Gas
Company, Inc.'s consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 1997, and for
the six months then ended and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      604,861
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                        105
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          91,523
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        14,820
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 711,309
<COMMON>                                       142,995
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            165,097
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 308,092
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           139,733
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              38,500
<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>                 189,984
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  711,309
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      388,176
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            23,862
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     316,901
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     340,763
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         47,413
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 879
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  48,292
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                         8,734
<NET-INCOME>                                    39,558
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   39,558
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        13,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        6,985
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          35,410
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0