February 25, 1999

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) has appointed Julia C. Van De Water as the public affairs representative for the counties of Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, Pulaski and Starke effective March 15.

Van De Water is one of 10 public affairs representatives located throughout NIPSCO’s 32-county service territory who serve as contacts between NIPSCO and community leaders, customers and local media. These representatives also serve as NIPSCO’s economic development contacts in their communities, working with local organizations and officials to promote economic growth, as well as to promote a positive relationship between NIPSCO and the community.

"We are very pleased to welcome Julia to our public affairs staff," said Victor DeMeyer, NIPSCO’s director of public affairs and communications. "As a native of the Plymouth/Warsaw area, she will be a great asset not only to NIPSCO, but an important civic and economic development advocate of the region."

A graduate of Tippecanoe Valley High School, Van De Water attended Ball State University where she received her bachelor of science degree in journalism. She previously worked as subsidiary communications coordinator for NIPSCO Industries, Inc. (NI), NIPSCO’s parent company.

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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