FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2002

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Regina D. Biddings, Director NIPSCO Communications & Community Relations

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) continues to work to implement the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) order issued on Sep. 23, 2002, approving the electric rate settlement agreement.

The order provides immediate and long-term benefits for NIPSCO customers, including electric bill credits and a special rate to promote economic development across the NIPSCO service territory.

After the IURC issued its order, the company began making preparations to implement credits of approximately 6 percent to the electric portion of customers' bills, effective Nov. 1, 2002.

However, the Nov. 1 start date for the electric bill credits could be in jeopardy. Attorneys representing 14 individual customers have filed a motion with the IURC asking them to reconsider their order approving the settlement agreement. As a result of this motion, electric credits may not appear on customers' bills until after the IURC rules on this recently filed motion.

"We are disappointed with the filing of this motion because it potentially delays the immediate and long-term benefits to our 430,000 electric customers," said NIPSCO President and Chief Executive Officer Barrett Hatches.

"The settling parties, including the state's official consumer advocacy agency, spent many hours in lengthy negotiations to establish a fair and equitable agreement. We will continue to make preparations to implement the credit to customers' bills, however, this action may delay the start date."

In order to implement electric bill credits on Nov. 1, NIPSCO must know if the commission has denied the motion by Oct. 23, 2002.

On Oct. 15, an independent consumer advocate group filed a notice with the IURC of its intent to appeal the order to the Indiana Court of Appeals. This action has no bearing on NIPSCO's ability to implement the bill credits as of Nov. 1.