<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the
financial statements of Northern Indiana Public Service Company for three
months ended September 30, 2000 and is qualified in its entirety by reference
to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             JUL-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,901,594
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                      2,670
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         384,153
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       204,086
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 178,542
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,671,045
<COMMON>                                       859,488
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                       12,525
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            134,029
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,006,042
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           52,180
<PREFERRED>                                     81,114
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           313,174
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             107,700
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      592,025
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                 183,500
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   18,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                        1,828
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,315,482
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,671,045
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      411,640
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            31,872
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     303,576
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     335,448
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         76,192
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                                 270
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  76,462
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        20,358
<NET-INCOME>                                    56,104
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                      1,975
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   54,129
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       168,000
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          54,170
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0