MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Directors of Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NI), declared dividends on the following preferred stocks: $1.0625 a share on 4-1/4 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.13 a share on 4-1/2 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.06 a share on 4.22 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.22 a share on 4.88 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.86 a share on 7.44 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.87 a share on 7.50 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $2.2125 a share on 8.85 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.9375 a share on 7-3/4 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $2.0875 a share on 8.35 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; $1.625 a share on 6.50 percent Cumulative Preferred Stock; 75 cents a share on the Adjustable Rate Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A.

All of the above are payable on April 14, 2000, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2000.

Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource 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 NiSource Inc. and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com.