FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 21, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Larry Graham, Manager NIPSCO Communications (574) 284-2151

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) natural gas customers who want, or need, to know how much to pay every month for their natural gas can now enroll in the company’s optional DependaBill program. This program ensures that customers receive fixed natural gas bills, regardless of changes in natural gas costs, weather conditions, or the time of year.

Customers know what they will be paying every month of the year for 12 months, with no interim adjustment or end-of-year reconciliation. The program does not guarantee savings, but does guarantee predictability. In their June billing statements, eligible customers are now receiving customized DependaBill quotes, which are based on their historical natural gas usage and normal seasonal temperatures.

“Customer response to our DependaBill program in the past has been so strong that we’ve had to limit enrollment, which has been on a first-come, first-served basis,” said NIPSCO President Mark Maassel. “The program will be capped at 4,500 customers. Overall, customers have been extremely satisfied with the program.”

“Our goal at NIPSCO is to offer customers as many pricing and payment options as possible, as a means of enhancing customer satisfaction and improving service,” Maassel said.

For additional information on DependaBill, customers should call 1-800-777-9151.

Other pricing programs available to NIPSCO customers include:

• Price Protection Service (PPS), which helps customers manage their natural gas supply charges by avoiding fluctuations in market pricing. Customers sign up and pay the same amount per unit of natural gas for a 12-month period.

• NIPSCO Choice, which lets customers choose their natural gas supplier, while continuing to rely on NIPSCO to deliver the natural gas to their home or business. NIPSCO Announces Gas Cost Adjustment For June

• NIPSCO Budget Plan, which allows customers to pay the same amount every month based on their past energy usage and an estimate of future usage and prices. Budget customers also may enroll in the DependaBill program.

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.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is the state agency that represents the interests of all utility consumers and the public in matters related to the provision of utility services. The agency is active in proceedings before regulatory and legal bodies, and committed to giving consumers a voice in the creation of utility service policy. Consumers with questions or concerns regarding utility service can contact the OUCC toll-free at 1-888-441-2494 or on the World Wide Web at www.IN.gov/OUCC.