FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2004
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Julia Van De Water, Manager
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MERRILLVILLE, Ind. -- Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) announced today that the two organizations, and others, filed a joint settlement and extension of NIPSCO’s natural gas Alternative Regulatory Plan (ARP) effective until March 31, 2006.
Initially approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) in 1997, NIPSCO’s ARP allows the utility’s natural gas customers the option to participate in the NIPSCO Choice program, and Price Protection Services (PPS), while a separate ARP provides for the NIPSCO DependaBill option. NIPSCO is the only utility in the state that offers these optional products and services.
NIPSCO and the OUCC have worked with IURC staff as well as representatives of the seven NIPSCO Choice suppliers since early June to craft a plan that would allow these optional products and services continue.
“The extension of the ARP is very important to our customers,” said NIPSCO President Mark Maassel. “It allows the services provided under this ARP to continue to the more than 107,000 customers who have already chosen alternative suppliers through our NIPSCO Choice program or products such as PPS and DependaBill.”
According to Maassel, enrollment in NIPSCO Choice over the last two years has grown to more than 54,000. He also stated the extension of the ARP will allow NIPSCO to continue to provide these options to all customers.
“This extension will allow NIPSCO’s nearly 700,000 natural gas customers to still be able to enroll in an alternative supply option, while providing adequate safeguards for those that decide not to remain on NIPSCO’s traditional, regulated service,” said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Anne E. Becker. “Working with the competitive suppliers and the utility, we felt there was more that we could learn by continuing to provide this competitive retail option.”
Vectren Source, one of the participating natural gas suppliers within the NIPSCO Choice program, has enrolled thousands of NIPSCO customers since joining the program in late 2002.
“We look forward to continuing our participation in NIPSCO Choice and offering competition to consumers in Northern Indiana,” said Vectren Source President Greg Collins.
“I agree,” said Nordic Energy Services President Jim Deering, also a NIPSCO Choice supplier. “Programs such as NIPSCO Choice and the opportunity for competition would not be available without the successful collaboration of the regulatory agencies and the participating natural gas suppliers.”
NIPSCO anticipates resuming discussions within the next several months to ensure the long-term future of these programs.
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.