FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 8, 2004
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Larry Graham, Manager
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MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) announced today it has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking bids on power supplies designed to meet new and existing standards for reliability proposed by the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) and the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC), as well as anticipated customer power requirements. The RFP requests power purchase bids of 150 Megawatts (MW) to meet the highly varying electricity demands of NIPSCO customers, as well as bids for a 250 MW block of power to supplement existing generating capacity during the peak summer months
“Our ongoing review of the MISO and NERC requirements has helped NIPSCO better define its future power needs,” said NIPSCO President Mark Maassel. “Along with our own generation capacity, this RFP process will result in NIPSCO meeting these new standards and continuing to supply safe, reliable service to all our electric customers.”
The MISO serves as an Independent Transmission Organization responsible for the reliable and efficient operation of the electric transmission system serving much of the Midwest. NERC was formed in 1968 to promote the reliability of the electric transmission system serving North America.
Burns and McDonnell Engineering has been retained by NIPSCO to assist in the RFP process and to receive the formal proposals from power suppliers. Proposals should be submitted to Burns and McDonnell at NIPSCOrfp@burnsmcd.com.
NIPSCO anticipates that the selection of a power provider will be determined prior to the implementation of the new MISO market. Proposals from bidders are due by November 5, 2004.
Forward-looking statements 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.
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed herein include, among other things, increased competition in deregulated energy markets, weather, fluctuations in supply and demand for energy commodities, growth opportunities for NIPSCO’s regulated businesses, dealings with third parties over whom NIPSCO has no control, the regulatory process, regulatory and legislative changes, changes in general economic, capital and commodity market conditions, and counter-party credit risk, many of which risks are beyond the control of NIPSCO. These and other risk factors are detailed from time-to-time in the company’s SEC reports. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. The company does not undertake any obligation to publicly release any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release.