<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET, STATEMENT OF INCOME, STATEMENT OF RETAINED EARNINGS AND STATEMENT OF CASH
FLOWS CONTAINED IN FORM 10-K OF COMMONWEALTH GAS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000

                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1999
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      280,280
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                          0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          87,036
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        56,692
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                 197,019
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 621,027
<COMMON>                                        71,425
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      234,982
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                              5,381
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 311,788
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                            98,500
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              53,270
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                    3,650
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                          0
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 153,819
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  621,027
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      291,006
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                             7,353
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     262,083
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     269,436
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         21,570
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,075
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  22,645
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        11,540
<NET-INCOME>                                    11,105
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   11,105
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        14,285
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                        8,390
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          14,264
<EPS-BASIC>                                          0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0