<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Indiana
Gas Company's consolidated financial statements as of June 30, 1997, and for
the nine months then ended and is qualified in tis entirety by reference to such
financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      610,722
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                         26
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          41,117
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,497
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 664,362
<COMMON>                                       142,995
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            162,906
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 305,901
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           139,733
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                               8,750
<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>                 174,978
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  664,362
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      471,909
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            26,361
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     390,336
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     416,697
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         55,212
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,295
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  56,507
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        12,640
<NET-INCOME>                                    43,867
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   43,867
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,500
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       10,477
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,402
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0