SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

   Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of
                                      1934
                                (Amendment No. )

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                                          [_]Confidential, for Use of the
[_]Preliminary Proxy Statement              Commission Only (as Permitted by
                                            Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

[_]Definitive Proxy Statement

[_]Definitive Additional Materials

[X]Soliciting Material Pursuant to (S)240.14a-11(c) or (S)240.14a-12


                              Columbia Energy Group
              -----------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)


              -----------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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CKY E-news copy

CKY FILES MERGER APPLICATION

On Monday, May 1, NiSource, Columbia Energy Group and CKY filed a joint
application with the Kentucky Public Service Commission requesting the necessary
approvals related to the planned merger. Under Kentucky's statutes, the
Commission has 60 days in which to review and rule on the proposed merger.

The filing noted that following the merger Columbia Gas of Kentucky will:

     o Maintain its headquarters in Lexington.
     o Retain key management
     o Maintain local decision-making authority
     o Retain the employee workforce in accordance with CKY's plans prior
       to the merger.
     o Honor CKY's collective bargaining agreement.
     o Continue CKY's efforts of community and civic involvement.

The combined company will be the largest natural gas distributor east of the
Rocky Mountains and the 2nd largest gas company in the country. Similar
applications have been filed with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission and
the State Corporation Commission of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

         This story contains certain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of the federal securities laws; these forward-looking statements are
subject to various risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and
expectations discussed herein may include factors that are beyond the companies'
ability to control or estimate precisely, such as estimates of future market
conditions, the behavior of other market participants and the actions of the
Federal and State regulators. Other factors include, but are not limited to,
actions in the financial markets, weather conditions, economic conditions in the
two companies' service territories, fluctuations in energy-related commodity
prices, conversion activity, other marketing efforts and other uncertainties.
Other risk factors are detailed from time to




time in the two companies' SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of
this release. The companies do not undertake any obligation to publicly release
any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or
circumstances after the date of this release.

         In addition to other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by the two companies, NiSource and the new holding company have filed
a registration statement, which contains a joint proxy statement/prospectus for
NiSource and Columbia Energy. The final joint proxy statement/prospectus, dated
April 24, 2000, is available and has been distributed to the companies'
shareholders. Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy
statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when
they become available because they will contain important information. Investors
and security holders can receive the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other
documents free of charge at the SEC's web site, www.sec.gov, from NiSource
Investor Relations at 801 East 86th Avenue, Merrillville, Indiana 46410 or at
its web site, www.nisource.com, or from Columbia Investor Relations at 13880
Dulles Corner Lane, Herndon, Virginia 20171 or at its web site,
www.columbiaenergygroup.com.

         Information concerning the identity of the participants in the
solicitation of proxies by the NiSource Inc. and Columbia Energy Group boards of
directors and their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or
otherwise, may be obtained from the Secretary of NiSource Inc. or the Secretary
of Columbia Energy Group, as the case may be, at the addresses listed above.