LaPorte hearing on $644 million NIPSCO project rescheduled

People can still submit comments to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, which represents the interests of consumers in rate cases.

The public hearing was supposed to take place Monday evening at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium. The IURC plans to reschedule the public hearing to a later date and will push back the procedural schedule for its review.

NIPSCO plans to build a $644 million natural gas peaker at its R.M. Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield. While the Merrillville-based utility is shifting much of its electricity generation away from fossil fuels, the natural gas peakers will back up its wind turbines and solar panels to ensure a steady stream of electricity around the clock regardless of weather and cloud cover.

The utility plans to build a 400-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at the Schahfer Generating Station to replace the coal-fired electricity generation there that will be retired by 2025. NIPSCO likely will raise rates on its 483,000 customers across 20 counties as frequently as every six months to finance the construction of the new $643.7 million facility.

Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, United Steelworkers locals 12775 and 13796, Cleveland-Cliffs, Marathon, United States Steel and USG already have weighed in on the proposal.

State regulators are reviewing the proposal and considering whether it is the most cost-effective option and if the subsequent rate increases would be reasonable.

Anyone who wishes to do so can file written comments online at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email at uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov, or by mail at Public Comments, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 SOUTH, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

People should include their name, mailing address and a reference to either IURC Cause No. 45947 or NIPSCO Generation Facility.

Anyone with questions can call 1-888-441-2494.