Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) utility customers who may need help paying their heating bills this winter can now sign up for the federal low income energy assistance program. Available assistance includes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP. It’s available to households falling within 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Between Dec. 1 and March 15, Indiana natural gas utilities do not disconnect service to customers enrolled in LIHEAP who are behind on their bills. NIPSCO customers enrolled in LIHEAP also qualify for the Customer Assistance for Residential Energy, or CARE, program. It provides further bill reductions to eligible customers.
Customers just outside the federal poverty guidelines for LIHEAP can get up to $400 in gas bill assistance if they fall between 151 and 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
Eligibility is based on income and family size. More information and a listing of agencies that help administer assistance programs can be found at www.NIPSCO.com/PaymentAssistance. NIPSCO Customer Care Agents trained to help connect customers with available funds are available Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CT at 1-800-4NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726).
Applicants will need to provide an Indiana photo ID, Social Security cards for all household members, a copy of their NIPSCO bill, proof of residency and proof of income.
