Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) renewed its commitment to helping customers save energy and money in a filing made with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to extend the availability of electric energy efficiency programs.
The programs outlined in the plan – available to all NIPSCO electric customers – will replace the state-wide Energizing Indiana programs which are set to expire at the end of 2014.
“Continuing to offer ways for our customers to help save energy and manage their bills is important,” said Jim Stanley, NIPSCO CEO. “This proposal outlines a variety of cost-effective programs that are tailored to meet the diverse needs of our customers across northern Indiana.”
NIPSCO has been providing electric energy efficiency programs since 2009. Under the new plan, popular residential programs such as the Energy Efficiency Rebate Program, the New Construction Program and Low Income Weatherization Program will continue.
NIPSCO is proposing to combine the Home Energy Assessment and Weatherization Program in an effort to streamline these offerings, making it easier for customers to participate. An expanded pilot program for income-qualified customers is also part of the plan.
Through these programs, NIPSCO expects residential customers to save 49.5 million kilowatt hours (hWh) in 2015.
An opt-out provision for larger commercial and industrial customers is also included, as many of NIPSCO’s large customers have already implemented and continue to invest in energy efficiency measures outside of the standard utility programs. However, NIPSCO will continue to offer interested industrial customers incentive programs for saving electricity, including the Commercial & Industrial Custom Program, the Commercial & Industrial Prescriptive Program and a Small Business Direct Install Program for NIPSCO's smaller commercial customers.
Changes to NIPSCO’s energy efficiency programs for gas customers are not being proposed in this filing.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) must review and approve the plan, in addition to input from other customer stakeholder groups, including the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC).
For information about all energy efficiency offerings available to NIPSCO customers, visit www.NIPSCO.com/SaveEnergy.