February 9, 1999

WHEATFIELD, Ind.—Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is investigating the cause of an explosion at a Wheatfield home that occurred this morning at approximately 7:30 a.m. CST.

Natural gas service has been interrupted to approximately 350 homes and businesses. Efforts to restore service are in progress. NIPSCO’s regulator station south of Wheatfield has been inspected and returned to service. Service to each home will be restored following re-pressurization of the distribution system, the completion of a leak survey and inspection of each customer’s residence.

NIPSCO service technicians have been brought in from surrounding areas to restore service safely and as quickly as safety allows. Customers will need to grant technicians access to their residences for inspection during restoration. The company is making its best effort to return service to as many of its customers as possible. The entire system should be returned to normal service by tomorrow morning.

We encourage you to check on the status of your neighbors. If you are aware of any neighbors who may be out of town, home ill, or otherwise not available, please call toll-free

1-800-4-NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726) and notify us. Customers requiring assistance, including food service, should call the Wheatfield Town Hall at (219) 956-3119.

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NIPSCO Industries, Inc. (NI), is a regulated utility that provides natural gas and electricity to a population of approximately 2.2 million across the northern third of Indiana. With nearly 700,000 gas customers and 416,000 electric customers, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state of Indiana. Information about NIPSCO Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nipsco.com.

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