FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2004

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Larry Graham, Manager NIPSCO Communications (260) 439-1330

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - More than 30 first responders from Newtown County attended an electrical safety training exercise hosted and sponsored by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO).

The training exercise, which took place on Nov. 9 at the Kentland Town Hall, provided emergency services personnel with a number of classroom courses on a variety of safety topics.

“NIPSCO has a long tradition of working with first responders and sharing best practices in electrical safety training,” said NIPSCO Public Affairs Manager Dave Ryan. “The information we presented was essential, as many of our public safety personnel are usually the first to be on the scene where energized electrical equipment can create a hazard.”

The electric safety training included a review of basic electricity and awareness of electrical hazards, a presentation on NIPSCO’s overhead and underground distribution system, a review of possible emergency response scenarios, such as a downed wire on an occupied vehicle, and how to safely shut off electric meters during an emergency.

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.com.