FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Regina Biddings, Director NIPSCO Communications (219) 647-6388

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. --- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is providing safety advice to customers as part of its commitment to safely delivering reliable energy service to every customer in Northern Indiana, every day.

“Delivering safe and reliable energy service is the heart of our business, ” said NIPSCO President, Mark Maassel. “NIPSCO communicates advice to help ensure the safety of our customers as they enjoy the benefits of natural gas and electricity.”

NIPSCO offers the following safety tips:

1. Be prepared: Make sure key items such as a first-aid kit, flashlight and portable radio are readily available in the event of an emergency.

2. Beware the smell of gas: If you smell natural gas, check your appliances to make sure they are turned off. If you continue to smell gas, leave your home immediately and call NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726) from outside your home.

3. Turn off the power first: To avoid injury, make sure to turn off power at the main service panel before doing any electrical work on your property, such as installing electrical fixtures.

4. Call before you dig: Call Indiana Underground at 1-800-382-5544 two days before you dig. Calling ahead allows for underground utilities to be located and can prevent unnecessary energy disruptions and precarious situations.

5. Use your hands: After underground utilities are marked, hand dig with a small shovel to verify exact utility depth and location before you begin digging with power tools.

6. Check the site first: Tour your work area before beginning outdoor projects. Make sure there are not any power lines near your workspace and assume all lines are dangerous.

7. Don’t trim near power lines: Refrain from trimming tree branches and other foliage near power lines. Broken tree branches may cause power outages and can be very dangerous.

8. Keep kites away: If your kite or another airborne object gets close to electric lines, let go immediately. Should the kite contact an electric line, stand clear of the object and call NIPSCO.

9. Stay away from downed lines: If you notice a downed power line, back away from the line, call NIPSCO immediately, and wait for help from trained personnel.

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. 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.