EXHIBIT 23(a)



                       Consent of Independent Accountants


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated October 25, 2000 relating to the
financial statements and financial statement schedule of Alabama Gas
Corporation, which appears in Alabama Gas Corporation's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended September 30, 2000.  We also consent to the reference to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.



/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP


Birmingham, Alabama
August 14, 2001