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                                                                  EXHIBIT 23 (i)

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
reports dated March 15, 2001 included in KCS Energy, Inc.'s Form 10-K, for the
year ended December 31, 2000, into previously filed Registration Statement File
Nos. 33-25707, 33-28899, 33-45923 and 33-63982.







                                            ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Houston, Texas
March 28, 2001