- Plan continues company’s electric generation transition, enhances safety and reliability
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), a subsidiary of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), has made a request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to adjust its electric rates. The request is largely driven by continued investments in renewable energy to support the company’s ongoing electric generation transition, along with infrastructure upgrades to provide enhanced safety and reliability. As demonstrated by the company’s Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process in 2018 and 2021, making these investments now is the most cost-effective approach for customers over the long term.
While the proposed increase was filed with the IURC today, it will undergo a thorough regulatory review process, which includes the opportunity for the public to provide input. Any changes to a customer’s bill that are ultimately approved by the IURC will be phased in over time beginning in late 2025 and into 2026, versus a one-time increase.
“We are making progress on our electric generation transition that will provide direct benefits to the customers and communities we serve, now and well into the future,” said Vince Parisi, NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer. “These proposed rates will support that ongoing transition, as well as infrastructure and system upgrades to strengthen our system and provide the increased safety, reliability and value that our customers expect and deserve.”
How will residential customer bills change?
Based on NIPSCO’s proposal, an average residential electric customer, as a result of this case, would see an overall increase of approximately $32 per month, or approximately 22% above projected bills at the time of implementation.
The change, if approved, would begin to occur by Sept. 1, 2025, with the remaining changes applied by March 2026.
Part of this request includes a proposal for a new bill payment assistance program for income-qualified customers, with a portion funded by NIPSCO. Additionally, NIPSCO has proposed a new multifamily housing rate structure that, if approved, would allow for a 9%, or an approximately $10 decrease per month, to an average multifamily housing customer using 444 kwh per month compared to the standard residential rate.
As a regulated energy provider, NIPSCO cannot change any rates or charges to its customers without the approval of the IURC. NIPSCO’s natural gas rates are not affected by this request.
Actual projected bill impacts may vary by customer – including nonresidential customers – depending on usage and future potential changes in market prices.
Improving Service to Customers and Managing Costs
Informed by NIPSCO’s IRP process, the company’s transition to a more balanced electric generation portfolio is the best option for customers in terms of affordability and reliability over the long term. The transition to renewable energy generation is significant, representing approximately $2 billion in new investments through 2025. The company is also investing approximately $769.5 million for electric transmission and distribution system upgrades, technology improvements, and safety and reliability initiatives to be completed by the end of 2025, with plans for similar investments into the future.
Along with those investments, NIPSCO is working in a cost-effective manner to help keep costs lower for customers over the long term. For example:
- $80 million in customer savings – Approximate customer savings resulting from NIPSCO’s renewable generating assets since 2021. NIPSCO currently sells the renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by renewable energy projects and also sells the excess power that these projects generate when it is not needed to serve NIPSCO customers. Customers directly benefit by having lower charges on their bills through the fuel adjustment charge component, as 100% of the revenue associated with these sales by the existing renewable projects are passed back to customers, along with the sales from the upcoming renewable project additions are passed back to customers.
- $70 million in cost reduction – The projected amount of approximate savings from lower operating and maintenance costs, along with eliminated fuel and purchase power costs after NIPSCO retires Units 17 and 18 at its R.M. Schahfer Generating Station by the end of 2025. This cost reduction makes the proposed new electric rates lower than it would have been without the retirements.
- Renewable Energy Investment and Production Tax Credits – By moving to a full-ownership model for many of its renewable energy and energy storage projects, NIPSCO will claim tax credits and pass the benefits of those tax credits on to its customers. Customers will realize the benefits of these tax credits for a 10-year period starting in 2025.
- Infrastructure modernization – Infrastructure modernization projects ongoing throughout NIPSCO’s service area include underground cable replacement, which involves replacing aging underground cable, and substation relay modernization to allow for reduced outage times and enhanced visibility into our electric system. Also underway is steel structure life extension to help maintain reliability of the steel transmission structures within our service area. These investments, among many others, will enhance NIPSCO’s ability to provide safe, reliable energy to northern Indiana.
Bill payment assistance and energy savings programs are available
Beyond the existing state and federal energy assistance programs and moratorium on winter service disconnections, NIPSCO provides credit arrangements, budget plans and reduced deposits for eligible customers, including the following:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): If electricity is the primary source of customers’ heat, LIHEAP support is available to households that are at or below 60% of the state median income. The program opens on Oct. 1 for online and mail-in applications. Customers can learn more and find out if they qualify at eap.ihcda.in.gov or by calling 2-1-1.
- Flexible Payment Agreements: NIPSCO has expanded its payment plan agreements to offer its most flexible payment plans to customers who need financial support, including three-, six- and 12-month plans. Customers can learn more and enroll at NIPSCO.com/PaymentPlans.
- Township Trustees: A limited amount of energy assistance funds is available through local Township Trustee offices. NIPSCO customers are encouraged to contact their local Township Trustee to see what help may be available.
- The Emergency Rental Assistance Program: This program provides up to 18 months of rental and utility assistance for renters. Additional information can be found at https://www.in.gov/ihcda/homeowners-and-renters/rental-assistance/.
- Budget Plan: The budget plan is a free service to all NIPSCO customers to help manage their monthly energy bills by spreading out electric costs over an entire year. Learn more at NIPSCO.com/budget.
As always, any customers experiencing difficulty with paying their bills – regardless of their income – are encouraged to contact our Customer Care Center Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. CT at 1-800-464-7726 to determine what help might be available to them. For more information on bill assistance, customers can visit NIPSCO.com/FinancialSupport.
In addition to payment assistance options, NIPSCO offers a number of energy-efficiency programs to help lower energy usage and bills. Visit NIPSCO.com/Save for more information on available programs and other ways to save.
Learn more about NIPSCO’s rates at NIPSCO.com/2025electricrates.
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About NIPSCO:
Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), with headquarters in Merrillville, Indiana, has proudly served the energy needs of northern Indiana for more than 100 years. As Indiana’s largest natural gas distribution company and the second-largest electric distribution company, NIPSCO serves approximately 859,000 natural gas and 500,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) six regulated utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.7 million natural gas and electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. More information about NIPSCO and NiSource is available at NIPSCO.com and NiSource.com.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,400 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index, has been named as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Best Companies and is on Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com. NI-F
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning plans, strategies, objectives, expected performance, electric generation transition, customer savings, expenditures, recovery of expenditures through rates, infrastructure modernization, generation of tax revenue, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. Expressions of future goals and expectations and similar expressions, including "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "aims," "seeks," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "targets," "forecast," and "continue," reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.
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