Merrillville, Ind. — NIPSCO is reminding customers that bill payment assistance programs will
continue to be available after the state’s moratorium on disconnecting electric and natural gas
service during the winter months ends on March 15, 2021.
Between December 1 and March 15, electric and natural gas providers in Indiana do not
disconnect service to customers enrolled in the state’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP) who are delinquent on their home heating bills.
Among the programs available to help customers who may have fallen behind on payments or
need financial support:
LIHEAP Program: Support is available to households falling within 150 percent of federal
poverty guidelines and is fully funded by a federal block grant offered through the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Applications for heating assistance
will be accepted through May 14, 2021. Summer cooling assistance will begin in June
2021 if remaining funds are available. Customers can learn more and find out if they
qualify at eap.ihcda.in.gov or call 2-1-1.
NIPSCO Customer Assistance for Residential Energy (CARE) Discount Program: In
addition to the assistance available through LIHEAP, the NIPSCO CARE Discount Program
is designed to provide further bill reductions to LIHEAP-eligible customers. Once
enrolled in LIHEAP, customers are automatically enrolled in the program, and reductions
range from 11 to 26 percent, depending on the same criteria used by the state in
determining the level of assistance. CARE discounts are available through May 31, 2021,
or until funds are exhausted.
NIPSCO Hardship Program: For customers just outside the federal poverty guidelines for
LIHEAP, the NIPSCO Hardship Program offers up to $400 in gas bill assistance to
households between 151 and 250 percent of the federal poverty level. Hardship funds
are available through many of the same local Community Action Agencies where LIHEAP
funds are distributed, and are available through May 31, 2021, or until funds are
exhausted.
Township Trustees: A limited amount of energy assistance funds are available through
local Township Trustee offices. NIPSCO customers are encouraged to contact their local
Township Trustee to see what help may be available.
Payment Agreement: NIPSCO has expanded its flexible payment arrangements to allow
customers to spread their past due balance over three or six months. Customers can
learn more and enroll at NIPSCO.com/paymentplans. LIHEAP customers may qualify for
a 12-month payment plan and should call NIPSCO’s Customer Care Center at 1-800-464-
7726 to learn more and determine their eligibility.
For more information on billing options and payment assistance, visit
NIPSCO.com/PaymentAssistance or call 1-800-4-NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726).
In addition to offering a number of 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.
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 820,000
natural gas and 470,000 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.