1
                      FORM U-12(I)-B (THREE-YEAR STATEMENT)
                   [As last amended in Release No. 35-26031,
                     effective May 31, 1994, 59 F.R. 21992.]

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.

                               Calendar Year 2000

                                 FORM U-12(I)-B

  STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(i) OF PUBLIC UTILITY HOLDING COMPANY ACT OF
   1935 BY A PERSON EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A REGISTERED HOLDING COMPANY OR A
                             SUBSIDIARY THEREOF AND
                   WHOSE EMPLOYMENT CONTEMPLATES ONLY ROUTINE
                       EXPENSES AS SPECIFIED IN RULE 71(b)

  (To be filed in DUPLICATE. If acknowledgment is desired, file in triplicate)

1.    Name and business address of person filing statement.

            Rene P. Dartez
            PO Box 683
            Houston, TX  77001-0683

2. Names and business addresses of any persons through whom the undersigned
   proposes to act in matters included within the exemption provided by
   paragraph (b) of Rule U-71.

            Columbia Gulf Transmission Company
            PO Box 683
            Houston, TX  77001-0683

3. Registered holding companies and subsidiary companies by which the
   undersigned is regularly employed or retained.

            NiSource, Inc.
            Columbia Gulf Transmission Company

4. Position or relationship in which the undersigned is employed or retained by
   each of the companies named in item 3, and brief description of nature of
   services to be rendered in each such position or relationship.

            Vice President Financial Planning and Budgeting


   2



5. (a) Compensation received during the current year and estimated to be
   received over the next two calendar years by the undersigned or others,
   directly or indirectly, for services rendered by the undersigned, from
   each of the companies designated in item 3.  (Use column (a) as
   supplementary statement only.)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Salary or other
                             compensations
                          ----------------------

Name of recipient          received      to be       Person or company from whom
                                        received     received or to be received
                             (a)          (b)

================================================================================
Rene Dartez   confidential treatment requested    Columbia Gulf Transmission Co.
================================================================================

   (b) Basis for compensation if other than salary.

6. (To be answered in supplementary statement only. See instructions.) Expenses
   incurred by the undersigned or any person named in item 2, above, during the
   calendar year in connection with the activities described in item 4, above,
   and the source or sources of reimbursement for same.

   (a)   Total amount of routine expenses charged to client:   $
                                                                ----------------

   (b) Itemized list of all other expenses:



Date:  February 23, 2001            (Signed) /s/ Rene P. Dartez