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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=42196.77

County To Fight NIPSCO Rate Increase
Friedman contends the utility already is ranked one of the most expensive in the state.

By Craig Davison
For The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - County attorney Shaw Friedman updated the La Porte County Board of Commissioners on the rate increase being sought by NIPSCO and the county's plans to intervene.

Friedman said Tuesday night the reason La Porte County should intervene is because NIPSCO is ranked as one of the most expensive utility companies in the state.

Based on a ranking of 1,000 kilowatt hour consumption, NIPSCO has the second-highest cost of all the energy utilities in Indiana, he said.

This not only affects residents but the ability to attract new business, Friedman said, because prospective businesses can choose energy rates a third less costly in neighboring St. Joseph County, which gets its electric power from AEP.

NIPSCO will present its first rate case since 1987 to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission later this year.

Friedman said it is unknown what kind of increase the energy company is seeking until it files information in August.

La Porte County has been active over the past six years in a variety of cases involving NIPSCO rates and services, Friedman said. Instead of an increase, Friedman said, "La Porte County believes a (rate) reduction is in order."

Commissioners approved Friedman pursuing the NIPSCO case.

Commissioner William Hager said the county's intervention efforts have helped keep rates down in the past. Also, through grants and reimbursement, the county has not had to pay for the expenses.

"It hasn't cost the county any money to fight these," Hager said.

Also on Tuesday, Commissioners said the county is expected to save about $15,000 a year with new pricing for office supplies. County Planner Mitchell Bishop presented a new list of office supplies for county departments, including a switch to generic printer cartridges that will save $8,000.

Commissioners also approved a request from the county Health Department to change its fees for tests. Yellow fever tests increased from $75 to $85; typhoid tests increased from $45 to $55; hepatitis A tests for adults increased from $27 to $33; blood profiles for the public increased from $35 to $45; and blood profiles for county employees increased from $20 to $40.

The Health Department also will start testing for chicken pox and shingles. Chicken pox tests will cost $170 and shingles tests will cost $95. Tuberculosis tests for employment or school requirement used to be free and will now cost $5.

The increases were necessary because there have been increases in prices for vaccines and laboratory work, Administrator Paul Trost said.

Finally, commissioners named Gene Jonas to the La Porte County Plan Commission. Hager said Jonas been to plan commission meetings and will be able to help work on the master plan.



Craig Davison is a reporter for the La Porte Herald-Argus.