NIPSCO Celebrates Arbor Day 2018 with Tree Plantings and Giveaways

rot1In commemoration of National Arbor Day, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) will host a number of tree-planting and educational events to demonstrate to communities the importance of trees and of planting the right tree in the right place.

Starting this week, NIPSCO will visit community sites to donate trees and demonstrate proper planting practices. The events, which are open to news media, will take place at the following locations and times:

NIPSCO-Celebrates-Arbor-Day-2018-with-Tree-Plantings-and-Giveaways Tree Giveaways in Celebration of Arbor Day
NIPSCO is offering a limited number of free trees to NIPSCO electric customers through Energy-Saving Trees, an Arbor Day Foundation program that helps conserve energy and reduce energy bills through strategic tree planting. Participants will receive the trees at an ideal time for planting along with information on how to plant them in the most strategic location near their homes or businesses. NIPSCO electric customers can reserve their trees at www.arborday.org/nipsco. Requests will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Before starting any digging projects, NIPSCO reminds customers to always remember to call 811, the free national safe digging hotline, to have their underground utility lines marked. Online requests can be made at www.811now.com.

Award-Winning Tree Program
NIPSCO’s Forestry Operations department has been honored by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA® utility. Since 1994, NIPSCO has received the Tree Line USA® award, which recognizes professionalism and environmental stewardship.

John Stout, leader of vegetation management for NIPSCO, commented, “NIPSCO is one of two utilities in the nation that has been a successful member of the Arbor Day Foundation program since it started in 1993. We are also proud to be the first utility in Indiana to partner with the ADF in its Energy Saving Trees program.”

Tips for Tree Pruning and Removal
Although choosing the right tree for a particular location is very important, please remember that correct pruning also contributes to the tree’s longevity. Here are a few things to remember:

  • The best time to prune flowering trees is after they are done flowering.
  • Prune hardwood and evergreen trees during the dormant season of late fall and winter.
  • Prune dead or dying branches anytime.
  • Be sure to use sharp tools and to make clean cuts.

For more tips on tree planting and care or to learn more about NIPSCO’s Forestry Operations, visit NIPSCO.com/Trees or call 1-800-4-NIPSCO.

About NIPSCO
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (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 810,000 natural gas and 460,000 electric customers across 32 counties. NIPSCO is part of NiSource’s (NYSE: NI) seven regulated utility companies. NiSource is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 4 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.