March 13, 2001
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
NIPSCO NAMES NEW PRESIDENT AND CEO
(MERRILLVILLE, Ind.) - Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) has named Barrett Hatches as president and chief executive officer.
Hatches, who will join NIPSCO April 2, will oversee all natural gas and electric distribution operations of the utility serving more than 700,000 natural gas customers and 430,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana. He will be responsible for growth and strategic direction of NIPSCO, employee and labor relations, budget and financial planning, regulatory relationships, sales and corporate citizenship activities.
In addition to his NIPSCO responsibilities, Hatches will serve as chief executive officer of NiSource's other Indiana natural gas distribution companies, Northern Indiana Fuel and Light Company and Kokomo Gas and Fuel Company. Hatches will report to Jeff Yundt, group president of NiSource Energy Distribution.
"Barrett Hatches brings proven leadership abilities, an excellent track record of operational accomplishments and a solid awareness of the importance of community relationships to this new role," Yundt said. "I'm very pleased to have an executive of his caliber joining our experienced team in Indiana."
Hatches, 45, currently is president and CEO of ENSTAR Natural Gas, a wholly owned natural gas distribution subsidiary of SEMCO ENERGY, Inc. Under his guidance, ENSTAR, based in Anchorage, Alaska, has increased customer satisfaction, improved operational efficiencies, upgraded technology to better serve customers and strengthened its relationships in its communities as well as with regulators.
Hatches also has responsibility for SEMCO's Alaska Pipeline Company.
Hatches previously served in senior management roles with SEMCO in Michigan as well as with Missouri Gas Energy and its predecessor Gas Service, a Western Resources company.
Hatches earned a master's degree from Webster University in St. Louis and a bachelor's degree from Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. He is active in community and business organizations and currently serves on the boards of directors of the Providence Hospital Foundation, the Performing Arts Center and the Anchorage Opera in Anchorage, Alaska. Hatches and his family will be relocating to Indiana.
NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the 10 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). With approximately 700,000 natural gas customers and 430,000 electric customers across the northern third of Indiana, NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company, and the second largest electric distribution company, in the state. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.6 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in nine states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com.
Note to journalists: A photo of Barrett Hatches is available via the NIPSCO Web site at www.nipsco.nisource.com/news/index.htm.
Regina D. Biddings
Director NIPSCO Communications
(219) 647-6388
Barrett Hatches leaving Alaskan natural gas company to lead NIPSCO
