FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Dina Anderson, Manager NIPSCO Communications (219) 647-6556

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) encourages customers to consider weatherization and energy conservation measures now, many at low or no cost, that will help control heating bills all winter long, while also making their homes feel more comfortable.

“Preparing your home for winter now, before the weather turns cold, means that you can maximize your energy savings this winter,” said NIPSCO President Mark Maassel. “NIPSCO provides customers with information and programs to help manage energy costs and use our natural resources wisely.”

The following are a few energy conservation tips from NIPSCO:

• Make sure your home is well insulated. You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs.
• Have your furnace checked by a qualified contractor. Furnaces that aren't working properly are often inefficient and can create serious health dangers from carbon monoxide.
• Change your furnace air filter often. Dirty air filters lower the efficiency of your furnace.
• Install an automatic setback thermostat. You can reduce the temperature while you're away from home and have the temperature back to a comfortable level by the time you return.
• Check heat registers. Make sure furniture, carpeting or other objects do not block them.
• Avoid heating or partially heating unused rooms. Shut registers and close unused rooms. Registers in upstairs rooms can often be partially closed since hot air rises.
• Keep the fireplace damper closed when not in use. Warm air will escape out of an open fireplace damper. Be sure the fire is out and the ashes are cold first.
• Replace older appliances with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® rated models. This rating means the Federal Department of Energy gives the appliance a high rating for energy efficiency, which means energy savings for you.

NIPSCO includes energy-saving tips in its booklet, "99 Ways to Conserve Energy," which is available to customers by visiting the company’s Web site at www.nipsco.com.

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 440,000 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.nisource.com.