<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2000.
Registration No. 333-95693
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------------
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------------
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
----------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
MASSACHUSETTS 4924 04-1270730
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
9 RIVERSIDE ROAD, WESTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02493. (781) 647-2300
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
L. WILLIAM LAW, JR., ESQ.
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
9 Riverside Road
Weston, Massachusetts 02493
(781) 647-2300
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
----------------------
COPIES TO:
DAVID B. WALEK, ESQ. JAMES M. COTTER, ESQ.
Ropes & Gray Simpson, Thatcher & Bartlett
One International Place 425 Lexington Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02110 New York, New York 10017
================================================================================
<PAGE>
The Registrant hereby withdraws from registration under this Registration
Statement 333-95693 all of the shares of Eastern Enterprises Common Stock
originally registered hereunder. The number of shares originally registered
exceeded the number of shares issued in connection with the consummation of the
Merger between the Registrant and EnergyNorth Inc.
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it has duly
caused this Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to its Registration Statement on Form
S-4 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in
the Town of Weston, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on this 13th day of
November, 2000
EASTERN ENTERPRISES
/s/ L. William Law, Jr.
-------------------------
By: L. William Law, Jr.
Title: Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement has been signed by the
following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
--------------------------- --------------------------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C>
* Chairman of the Board, November 13, 2000
--------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
J. Atwood Ives and Trustee
* President and Chief November 13, 2000
--------------------------- Operating Officer
Fred C. Raskin
* Executive Vice President November 13, 2000
--------------------------- and Chief Financial Officer
Walter J. Flaherty
* Senior Vice President and November 13, 2000
--------------------------- President of Midland Enterprises
J. Mark Cook
* Senior Vice President, General November 13, 2000
--------------------------- Counsel and Secretary
L. Willliam Law, Jr.
* Senior Vice President, November 13, 2000
--------------------------- President of Boston Gas, Colonial
Chester R. Messer Gas and Essex
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
James R. Barker
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
Richard S. Clayton
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
John D. Curtin, Jr.
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
Samuel Frankenheim
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
Leonard R. Jaskol
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
Wendell J. Knox
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
F.L. Putnam, Jr.
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
Rina K. Spence
* Trustee November 13, 2000
---------------------------
David B. Stone
</TABLE>
*The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign and execute this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration Statement on Form S-4 on behalf
of the above named officers and Trustees of Eastern Enterprises pursuant to the
Power of Attorney executed by each such officer and/or Trustee and previously
filed with the SEC.
By:/s/ L. William Law, Jr. November 13, 2000
------------------------
L. William Law, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
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