1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 11
 
                             BAY STATE GAS COMPANY
 
                STATEMENT RE: COMPUTATION OF PER SHARE EARNINGS
 


                                                            1996          1995          1994          1993          1992
                                                            -----         -----         -----         -----         -----
                                                                                                     
Primary earnings per share...............................   $2.00         $1.71         $1.85         $1.75         $1.41
Dilutive effect of outstanding options to purchase common
  stock..................................................   (0.02)        (0.01)        (0.02)        (0.03)        (0.02)
                                                            -----         -----         -----         -----         -----
Fully diluted earnings per share.........................   $1.98         $1.70         $1.83         $1.72         $1.39
                                                            =====         =====         =====         =====         =====