FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Larry Graham NIPSCO Communications 260-439-1330

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. --- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) is reminding customers who continue to need bill payment assistance that Gift of Warmth and Heat Aid 2004 dollars are still available in many communities but will likely soon be fully distributed for this heating season.

The NIPSCO Heat Aid 2004 program, which was launched on January 26, 2004 as part of an agreement between NIPSCO and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), had assisted 2,800 customers with both utility bill and deposit assistance through April 16th. More than $237,000 of the original $656,000 in initial funding remains available, however, for bill payment assistance for qualifying customers. The program provides assistance in paying 2003-2004 winter natural gas bills or security deposits required for reconnection of service.

Customers should contact a local Salvation Army office to see if they qualify.

The NIPSCO Heat Aid 2004 program will provide the following types of assistance:

1. Deposit Assistance for LIHEAP Eligible NIPSCO Customers

   NIPSCO customers who qualify for energy assistance under the current LIHEAP guidelines and are currently without natural gas service can receive one-time assistance of up to $300 towards the deposit.

2. Assistance for Non-LIHEAP NIPSCO Customers with Delinquent Balances

   NIPSCO customers within 126 percent to 250 percent of the federal poverty level who do not qualify for LIHEAP or are not protected under the moratorium, but who have received a delinquency notice after November 1, 2003, or are seeking restoration of their gas service following a disconnection, may use the one-time assistance of up to $300 to pay towards their utility arrearages.

NIPSCO’s Gift of Warmth program has already helped over 1,200 customers this winter and funding remains available in many communities to assist households still needing bill payment assistance. Since its inception in 1982, NiSource shareholders have made available up to $500,000 each year to match dollars raised throughout NIPSCO’s customer communities and 30 county-service territory to provide additional energy assistance.

Since Gift of Warmth funding is often used to supplement existing energy assistance being provided by social service agencies and local township trustees, customers are encouraged to first contact their local energy assistance provider. They can then work with the local Gift of Warmth agency to help meet a customer’s bill payment needs.

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.