FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2004
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Julia Van De Water, Manager
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MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced today this winter’s natural gas bills are likely to be comparable to last winter, if normal winter temperatures in the Midwest occur as predicted.
At news conferences held today in Warsaw and Merrillville, NIPSCO President Mark Maassel said NIPSCO customer bills averaged $150 per month for the months of December, January and February last year, and will likely average the same this heating season, although total bill amounts will vary as a result of actual consumption.
“Natural gas costs remained at a fairly constant level over the summer while we replenished our storage reserves to prepare for this winter,” said Maassel. “We will meet our customers’ need for safe, reliable natural gas again this winter.”
Maassel also announced the company will reduce deposits to $300 for low-income customers seeking natural gas service before winter temperatures arrive. Qualifying customers will then be able to enter into a credit agreement for any deposit amount over the $300.
“We wanted to provide some immediate relief for our low-income customers while we wait for regulatory approval on our proposed Winter Warmth program,” stated Maassel.
Limited deposit amounts are a component of NIPSCO’s Winter Warmth program that was filed in late September with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). The program cannot be fully implemented until NIPSCO receives regulatory approval.
If approved, the program would provide additional assistance to low-income customers eligible for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) dollars with payment of utility bills and security deposits needed to reestablish natural gas service or avoid a pending service disconnection.
The program could provide up to $4.6 million in energy assistance to low-income natural gas customers in NIPSCO’s service territory. The funding would supplement energy assistance programs currently available.
In addition to natural gas price projections, information about NIPSCO’s products, services, and energy assistance programs was provided, including information about NIPSCO’s BudgetPlan to help manage high winter gas bills. Customers pay the same monthly BudgetPlan amount until actual and budget payments are reconciled in May 2006.
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.