FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Julia Van De Water, Manager NIPSCO Communications (574) 284-2151

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. --- Indiana Governor Joseph E. Kernan recently reappointed and commissioned Dwayne M. Hogan to serve on the State’s Board of Safety Review. Hogan, an Environmental Health and Safety Coordinator for NiSource and NIPSCO, will serve as a management representative and the lead Administrative Law Judge for the state until his term expires in 2005.

Hogan is the longest sitting Judge on this Board since the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) was formed in the state. He was first appointed in April 1995 by then Governor Evan Bayh. He was again reappointed by the late Governor Frank O'Bannon, and finally by current Governor Joseph E. Kernan in December 2003.

The Board of Safety Review is a five-member board that has overall responsibility for determining the application of IOSHA standards in the event that a citation is appealed. The board is composed of two management representatives, two labor representatives and one representative of the public sector.

Hogan has been with NiSource and NIPSCO since 1978. He is the first Niource representative to serve on the board.

“This reappointment provides many opportunities to serve the health and safety efforts of the state,” said Jerry Godwin, NIPSCO chief operating officer. “The expertise Dwayne has gained throughout his career will be utilized for the betterment of all working Hoosiers.”

Hogan is a graduate of Kennedy-Western University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Safety. He is also a graduate of the Institute for Applied Management and Law. He is a Registered Environmental Manager, a Certified Environmental Inspector as well as a Certified Environmental Manager. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Society of Safety Engineers, the National Safety Management Society, and the Environmental Assessment Association.

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. NiSource distribution companies serve 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers primarily in nine states. More information about NIPSCO is available at www.nipsco.com.