Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MERRILLVILLE - Northern Indiana Public Service Co. announced Tuesday it received two favorable orders from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission regarding the company's Alternative Regulatory Plan and Winter Warmth program.
Mark Maassel, NIPSCO president, said, "We're pleased with today's IURC orders regarding what we believe are two very important programs that will provide benefits to all of our natural gas customers. Today's orders afford NIPSCO the opportunity to provide its customers with choice through unique products and services and continue to offer a program that will help to keep low-income customers safe and warm in their homes."
As part of the ARP, the fees NIPSCO charges to deliver gas to the customer's home will remain flat at least until May 1, 2010. These charges usually are identified as "gas delivery charges" on NIPSCO's bills - they are not the gas supply charges that reflect the actual cost of the natural gas.
According to Tom Cuddy, NIPSCO communications manager, the cost of natural gas has increased approximately 50 percent over the past year. Fluctuations in the cost are addressed monthly as "gas cost adjustments." NIPSCO announced Thursday that natural gas costs for February decreased compared to last month, primarily due to a decrease in wholesale natural gas prices. NIPSCO residential customers will see a decrease in natural gas costs of 11.55 percent when compared to January. The decrease is in part due to the unseasonably warm weather that has resulted in a reduction in natural gas demand for heating.
The ARP also allows the company's customers to shop around for a competitive natural gas supplier through NIPSCO Choice. In other words, the customer is allowed to choose the company from which they get their gas. NIPSCO continues to deliver the gas and pass both NIPSCO and gas supplier charges to the customer.
NIPSCO also offers fixed or capped rates through Price Protection Services and DependaBill. Cuddy said, "We encourage our customers to become educated about the different programs available. It's important to understand the details of all the options."
Maassel said, "The ARP is good news to all of our customers, regardless if they participate in these programs. We're focused on providing our customers with a safe and reliable supply of natural gas and offering them unique products and and services such as NIPSCO Choice, PPS and DependaBill."
NIPSCO is the only utility in the state that offers these optional products and services. Nearly 115,000 customers are enrolled in or participating in the three programs.
In a separate order, the IURC also approved an extension of the Winter Warmth program, which will direct up to $7.9 million in bill and deposit assistance to persons with low incomes or those experiencing a hardship. NIPSCO will contribute $1.15 million toward the program, now through Dec. 31.
"Winter Warmth is a targeted program that allows low-income customers to stay warm and be safe in their homes," said Massel. "With gas costs at record levels, we recognize that some of our customers are struggling to pay their heating bills and we, along with our existing network of agencies, are already prepared to serve them."
The program allows the agency to provide assistance to families and individuals who have hardship cases, such as illness, job loss or a breadwinner who has been called to active military service. Combined Community Services, 1110 E. Prairie St., Warsaw, administers the program in this area. For more information, call 574-269-6019.
In addition to providing bill and deposit assistance, Winter Warmth will allocate up to $750,000 of program funds to weatherize the homes of qualifying low-income customers. Last year, Winter Warmth directed more than $5 million in bill and deposit assistance to more than 14,000 customers. The program is designed to supplement existing energy assistance programs such as the Indiana Energy Assistance Program.
Cuddy said, "If you feel you might have trouble paying your bill, we encourage you to contact us before it's due, so we can work with you to workout a payment plan."
For more information about your NIPSCO bill, call the toll-free number on your bill or visit www.nipsco.com
