More than 25 years have gone by since NIPSCO has increased natural gas base rates, but that may change.
NIPSCO along with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission are looking to increase natural gas base rates as the cost to comply with state and federal safety standards has increased. According to a NIPSCO press release, the company has made additional investments in its aging gas system to improve service to 820,000 customers while maintaining more than 17,800 miles of pipelines.
The new rates proposed would be phased in over two steps. The first would occur in mid-2018 with new rates fully in place by early 2019. A residential customer using 69 therms per month would see an overall increase of approximately $10 a month.
NIPSCO is planning $400 million in system upgrades, technology improvements and other investments to increase pipeline safety and reliability, with plans for future investments.
If customers would like to comment on the proposed increase, written comments can be submitted directly to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, or at public field hearings and various consumer advocacy organizations.
NIPSCO touts that it serves as Indiana’s lowest-cost natural gas provider and among the lowest in the nation while offering programs to help customers save energy and be more energy efficient.
