<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME, THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000
<BOOK-VALUE> PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT> 1,606
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST> 0
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS> 467
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES> 0
<OTHER-ASSETS> 154
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,227
<COMMON> 76
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN> 108
<RETAINED-EARNINGS> 399
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ> 583
7
1
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET> 347
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES> 0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE> 0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS> 286
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT> 125
1
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS> 0
<LEASES-CURRENT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB> 877
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB> 2,227
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE> 1,032
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE> (16)
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,034
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES> 1,018
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS> 14
<OTHER-INCOME-NET> 8
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN> 22
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE> 30
<NET-INCOME> (8)
0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM> (9)
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS> 84
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS> 0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS> 208
<EPS-BASIC> 0 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED> 0 <F1>
<FN>
<F1>NICOR GAS IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NICOR INC. EARNINGS PER SHARE
INFORMATION IS THEREFORE OMITTED.
</FN>
</TABLE>
