NiSource-Company Customers Help Plant more than 190,000 Trees

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. April 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NiSource Inc., in collaboration with its nine local utilities, partnered with The Nature Conservancy to rebuild the Atlantic Forest through their Plant a Billion Trees program, ultimately helping to plant more than 190,000 trees through the effort. The partnership encouraged the company’s 3.8 million customers to sign up for its Direct e-Bill paperless billing service.  

For each customer who signed up between Jan. 1, 2010 and April 1, 2010, NiSource and its utilities contributed $10, which equates to 10 trees restored per customer. Over the course of the partnership, 19,189 customers signed up for paperless billing.  

“NiSource’s commitment to build a sustainable company through environmental programs like these, as well as non-environmental programs, is commendable,” said Mary McConnell, Indiana state director of The Nature Conservancy. “The overwhelming dedication of the company’s utility customers will have a profound effect on the Conservancy’s efforts to rebuild the Atlantic Forest.”

According to the Conservancy, the Plant a Billion Trees reforestation effort would remove approximately 10 million tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to taking two million cars off the road.  

More than 250,000 NiSource local utility customers are now using paperless billing. Customers are encouraged to continue to sign up for the convenient, paper-saving Direct e-Bill service on their local utility’s Web site.  

Additional utility-specific information on this and other programs can be found on the local Web site.  

The company’s corporate-wide sustainability report, published in April, is available on www.nisource.com.  

Editor’s Note: Please contact the local utility media contact for specific information about this partnership in your local community.  

About NiSource

NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at www.nisource.com. NI-F

About The Nature Conservancy

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than one million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide.  Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.

Registration does not imply endorsement.

SOURCE NiSource Inc.