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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...52577877250.txt

NIPSCO files proposal for gas rate change

By Matt Field
Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, May 5, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
MERRILLVILLE ­— NIPSCO filed a proposal Monday with the state to change its gas base rate for the first time in more than 20 years.

Under the proposal NIPSCO would charge a fixed monthly fee for delivery. According to a company release, that fee would be based on the cost of gas service and would allow customers to see how their usage affects their bills.

“NIPSCO customers have the lowest gas bills in Indiana, and we want to continue offering the lowest bills under this proposal,” said Jimmy Staton, NIPSCO executive vice president and group CEO.

The utility doesn’t profit from the cost of natural gas itself. According to company material, the cost the gas is often the largest portion of a customer’s bills and the company wants to help reduce usage.

Under the proposal, typical households will see their gas bills increase by an average of $1.67 per month, representing a 2.65 percent increase.

The proposal was filed with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. NIPSCO expects a review of its proposal to be completed by early 2011. The new rates would be effective following the commission’s decision.

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Funny combination of stories, eh?

http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/art...0635fea7c1.html

NiSource profits up 33 percent

Economic recovery increases demand

buy this photo GREGG GEARHART | TIMES FILE PHOTO NIPSCO's plant in Michigan City is shown. The utility’s parent, NiSource Inc., increased profits to $197.3 million in the first quarter.

NiSource Inc. profits increased almost 33 percent to $197.3 million in the first quarter, driven by lower expenses and a modest increase in industrial and residential demand in Indiana.

The first-quarter net income of $197.3 million, or 71 cents per share, compares to $148.4 million, or 54 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Merrillville-based company's unaudited results released Tuesday.

"Although it is too early to identify a definitive trend, we continue to see a gradual and modest pace of economic recovery across the markets served by our utilities," said NiSource CEO Robert Skaggs Jr.

The first quarter results were squarely in line with NiSource's 2010 earnings outlook, Skaggs said. In February, the company said it expected earnings to grow by 3 percent to 5 percent on a long-term basis and gave guidance for net operating earnings of $1.10 to $1.20 per share for 2010.

NIPSCO electric operations reported operating earnings of $46.2 million for the first quarter, a 77 percent increase over operating earnings of $26.1 million in the first quarter of 2009.

NiSource has 3.7 million customers mainly in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. Its NIPSCO subsidiary is the largest utility in Indiana with 712,000 natural gas customers and 457,000 electric customers.

On Monday, NIPSCO filed its first natural gas rate case in more than 20 years, asking state regulators for a hike in its delivery charges that would result in residential customers seeing about a 2.65 percent increase in bills. NIPSCO is also awaiting an order from state regulators on its request for a 15.6 percent hike in electric rates.

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http://thenewsdispatch.com/articles/2010/0...56947785184.txt

Settlement: NIPSCO customers have options

From Staff Reports
Published: Thursday, May 13, 2010 4:14 AM CDT
MERRILLVILLE — NIPSCO announced Wednesday the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a settlement agreement between the utility, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and natural gas marketers to renew the offering of alternative natural gas programs that provide residential, commercial and industrial customers with options for purchasing natural gas.

The renewal will extend the company’s alternative regulatory plan through March 31, 2012.

NIPSCO’s plan allows the utility’s natural gas customers the option of purchasing natural gas through NIPSCO’s Choice, Dependabill or Price Protection Service Programs.

Today, there are 12 approved suppliers offering a variety of product options to NIPSCO customers. NIPSCO remains responsible for safely delivering the gas through its existing pipeline system to customers who have chosen to purchase their gas from alternative suppliers.

Customers who receive their gas supply from NIPSCO can choose service under the DependaBill Program, which provides a fixed monthly bill with no annual reconciliation, or the PPS Program, which allows customers to fix or cap their per-unit cost of natural gas, similar to options offered by alternative suppliers as well.

NIPSCO is the only utility in the state offering such alternative supplier options to its customers.

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http://www.southbendtribune.com/article/20...4/-1/googleNews

NIPSCO hearing draws few
IURC hears concerns for senior citizens.

By DARYL BJORAAS
Tribune Staff Writer

Fewer than 50 people attended a meeting at the Century Center Tuesday night and only a few of those people commented on a potential natural gas rate increase brought on by the Northern Indiana Public Service Co.

The meeting was held by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to accept testimony from NIPSCO customers before granting or denying the proposed increases.

The changes include an average increase of $1.67 per month on an annual basis.

Click here for more information.
The proposal would be a flat $20 charge for all residential customers, regardless of how much energy is used.

Oral and written testimony from the night's hearing will be considered by the panel as it continues to collect information in the coming months.

Any changes will be decided upon in 12 to 18 months. The target date is before winter of 2011.

Bob Jackson, of Michigan City, told the panel that NIPSCO should reconsider its choice to implement charges, because it will hurt elderly customers.

"Older people are especially vulnerable to rate increases," Jackson said.

Jackson, who also serves on the volunteer Executive Council of AARP Indiana, said the elderly use more energy than the rest of the population.

He doesn't want them sacrificing life's necessities for warmth during the winter months.

If passed, proposed delivery costs will actually go down in the winter, said Nick Meyer spokesperson for NIPSCO.

Meyer said the rate increases would be made up during the summer months.

Those changes are a long time coming, he said, because it's the first increase since 1988.

"NIPSCO customers have the lowest gas bills in Indiana," Meyer said. "We're not increasing our revenue."

The increase is needed to keep up with the times, he said. It'll help NIPSCO repair and maintain the pipes they use to deliver gas.

South Bend resident Dawn Chapla said she understands the rate increases and said it's "one of those things" that has to happen.

She commended the company on its professionalism.

Public meetings to hear from NIPSCO customers were held earlier this month in Gary and Fort Wayne with relatively low turnouts.

NIPSCO provides natural gas to more than 700,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in 28 northern Indiana counties.

Staff writer Daryl Bjoraas:
dbjoraas@sbtinfo.com