FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
NIPSCO ANNOUNCES GAS COST ADJUSTMENT TO DECREASE IN JUNE
MERRILLVILLE, IN .- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced today that its gas cost adjustment (GCA) for June 2001 would decrease from the previous month.
For example, a typical NIPSCO residential customer using 50 therms of natural gas during May should expect an $11.57 decrease in their June billing, or approximately a 21.43 percent reduction from the previous month. NIPSCO's business and commercial gas customers should see decreases on their June billing statements as well.
This adjustment was approved subject to refund by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC).
Natural gas commodity prices for June 2001 are projected to be significantly lower than May 2001 prices. According to company officials, the decrease can be attributed to supply and demand factors. Warmer weather has resulted in lower usage and overall reductions in demand.
While natural gas prices have begun to moderate, the company continues to encourage its customers to practice energy conservation. Customers are also reminded about various products and services available to them.
For natural gas customers who are more comfortable with price stability, NIPSCO's BudgetPlan allows customers to spread gas costs over an entire year. The NIPSCO Choice program gives customers an opportunity to choose an alternative natural gas supplier.
The GCA is an allowed monthly adjustment to the gas supply charge portion of NIPSCO's natural gas service rates. The adjustment, which must be approved by the IURC, reflects the fluctuations in the price NIPSCO pays in the marketplace for natural gas. The company passes on the costs of the natural gas directly to customers without any markup.
Aside from the gas supply charge, the other components of NIPSCO's monthly gas statements include service costs for gas delivery, and state and local taxes. These service costs, which are also regulated by the IURC, vary with monthly gas use.
Customers may contact the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor toll-free at (888) 441-2494, or visit their website at www.in.gov/oucc. The OUCC is the state agency that represents the interests of Indiana consumers in matters related to the provision of utility services.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) may be contacted toll-free at (800) 851-4268, or via their website at www.state.in.us/iurc. An advocate of neither the public nor the utilities, the IURC is required by state statute to make decisions that balance the interests of all parties to ensure that utilities provide adequate and reliable service at reasonable prices.
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.
June 01, 2001
Julia Van De Water, Manager
NIPSCO Communications
(219) 647-6375
Anthony Swinger
OUCC Public Information Officer
(317) 233-2747
Mary Beth Fisher
IURC Director of Public Information
(317) 232-2297