Rate hike begins Tuesday after IURC approval

NIPSCO

Lisa Vallee of Just Transition NWI, top left, holds a protest sign, one of many she passed out during the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission hearing on NIPSCO’s proposed 20% rate increase. John Smierciak/Post-Tribune

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By Doug Ross Post-Tribune

NIPSCO’s electric rates are going up Tuesday following approval by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

For the average residential customer, that’s an increase of about $23 a month, or 16.75%, phased in beginning Tuesday and into 2026.

NIPSCO had requested an increase of $32 a month, but as is customary in rate cases, the IURC whittled it down to a smaller though significant amount.

Rate cases are complicated, and so is a utility’s billing structure. For residential customers, actual bills will depend on usage and future potential changes in market prices.

The IURC’s approval came after a settlement reached between NIPSCO, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and other key stakeholders, including NLMK Indiana, U.S. Steel Corp., Walmart, the RV Industry Users Group and the NIPSCO Industrial Group.

The Citizens Action Coalition objected to the agreement.

NIPSCO plans to use the additional revenue to support more than $2 billion in capital investments to shift from coal toward greener energy for long-term savings and environmental benefits. An additional $769.5 million will address infrastructure needs, including replacing aging poles and lines, building new substations and modernizing the electric grid to improve reliability and reduce the duration of outages.

“NIPSCO is committed to connecting our customers with safe and reliable energy that adds value to their everyday lives,” NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer Vince Parisi said in a news release.

“We’re proud of the collaborative outcome reached through this process, which balances the need for critical investments with the importance of minimizing the impact on our customers.”

“We understand that any increase in bills is significant, and we remain focused on supporting our customers through this transition with new assistance programs and continued improvements to service and reliability,” Parisi said.

Customers who experience difficulty with paying their bill can contact NISPCO at 800-464-7726 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Additional information is at NIPSCO.com/FinancialSupport.

Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.