<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTIANS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BAY STATE GAS COMPANY FOR THE
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1995 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO
SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          SEP-30-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             OCT-01-1994
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1995
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                      464,108
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     44,065
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                          66,886
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                        24,928
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                  30,368
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 630,355
<COMMON>                                        44,511
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      100,339
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             75,023
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 219,873
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                      5,149
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                           199,000
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              31,500
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                      181,000
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                  18,000
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                        0
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                      1,611
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                 1,108
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>                 172,114
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                  630,355
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      418,118
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            14,575
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     365,279
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     379,854
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         38,264
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,882
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  40,146
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        17,018
<NET-INCOME>                                    23,128
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        299
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   22,829
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        19,748
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          73,739
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.71
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.71