<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Indiana Gas Company, Inc.'s consolidated financial statements as of
September 30, 1997, and for the fiscal year then ended and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      589,681
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          3
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          63,911
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        12,124
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 665,719
<COMMON>                                       142,995
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            125,767
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 268,762
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           154,733
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,000
<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>                 187,224
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  665,719
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      530,407
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,852
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     493,544
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     501,396
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         29,011
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,241
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  30,252
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        16,774
<NET-INCOME>                                    13,478
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   13,478
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        26,250
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       14,194
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          87,421
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0