FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 4, 2003

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Media Carol Churchill Director, Corporate Communications (888) 696-0481 cchurchill@nisource.com	Investors Randy Hulen Director, Investor Relations (219) 647-5688 rghulen@nisource.com

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. --- The directors of Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), have declared dividends on the following NIPSCO preferred stocks (AMEX: NIP):

• $1.0625 per share on 4-1/4 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.12 per share on 4-1/2 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.05 per share on 4.22 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.22 per share on 4.88 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.86 per share on 7.44 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.88 per share on 7.50 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $1.9375 per share on 7-3/4 percent cumulative preferred stock;
• $2.0875 per share on 8.35 percent cumulative preferred stock; and
• 75 cents per share on the adjustable rate cumulative preferred stock, series A.

All of the above are payable on Jan. 14, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 12, 2003.

About NIPSCO
NIPSCO, with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., is one of the 10 energy distribution companies of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). With nearly 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. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com.

About NiSource
NiSource Inc. is a Fortune 500 holding company with headquarters in Merrillville, Ind., whose core operating companies engage in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to more than 3.7 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available at www.nisource.com.