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| News you can use and information tips | Winter 2002 |
Call In or Log On — Paying Your NIPSCO Bill Just Got Easier
Now there are even
more options to make paying your energy bills easier by phone or online!
Now you can pay your utility bill with your debit or credit card over the phone! If you’re a residential customer, simply call 1-866-277-9265 (commercial customers call 1-866-397-7481) and follow the prompts. NIPSCO’s payment partner, Electronic Data Service (EDS), is a leader in providing electronic payment options.
For residential customers, EDS charges a $5.95 service fee that will appear as a separate charge on your card statement. For commercial customers, there’s a $25.00 charge for the service.
You may make up to two transactions within a 21-day period. Payments take a minimum of two business days to post to your account.
Paying by check? Do it over the phone! Just call 1-866-736-5614 and follow the prompts to pay your energy bill by electronic check quickly and conveniently. No enrollment is required. Use the service whenever you need to make sure your payment is received on time, or to avoid shut-off if your account is delinquent.
Both residential and commercial customers incur a $1.95 charge for the service. Payments take a minimum of two business days to post to your account.
Have Internet access? Receive your monthly bill and pay it online! With CheckFree, our new e-bill service, you can receive and pay your NIPSCO bill over your computer! Your monthly bill will be posted on a secure site on the Internet. And that’s where you can pay it, too. There’s no need to write a check or mail an envelope. No delays and no paper clutter — you can file your e-bill in an electronic file folder. It’s easy, secure and free! For more information or to sign up, visit CheckFree’s Web site at www.checkfree.com.
Watch for other DirectLink service options to be announced later this year.
Other Payment Options Available!
ZapCheck: Pay your bill automatically and you’ll never have to write another check to NIPSCO again. Each month, your financial institution deducts the amount you owe on your NIPSCO bill from your checking or savings account automatically and on time. You receive a copy of the bill to review before the payment is made so that you can contact us with any questions.
BudgetPlan: Take the guesswork out of your utility bill with NIPSCO’s BudgetPlan. You’ll pay the same amount each month based upon your past energy usage, normal weather, and the current and projected cost of energy. Spread the cost of seasonal energy use over the entire year and know how much to budget for your utility bill.
Energy
Theft Is Unsafe and Illegal
At considerable risk to themselves and others, energy thieves have become more aggressive and resourceful in bypassing gas and electric meters after last winter’s spike in energy prices. People who install unauthorized connections to divert energy around meters and into their homes or businesses are not only breaking the law but also endangering property and lives.
Each year, meter bypassing or tampering results in the nation’s loss of billions of dollars worth of stolen energy. That can mean higher prices for trusted customers as utilities try to recover lost revenue for energy that was consumed but never reported.
You can help us reduce the risk and avoid personal injury. If you suspect that a meter might have been tampered with or bypassed, please contact us. We’ll keep your name and all information confidential. Your call can help protect property and lives.
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As the colder winter months approach, many customers remember the record-breaking temperatures and gas prices we experienced last winter. Although we can’t predict what the weather will be like, you’ll notice that the cost of natural gas is lower this year. That means it won’t cost as much to keep your home cozy and warm inside while cold winds are blowing outside. According to the American Gas Association, supply and demand factors have contributed to lower prices. While drilling for natural gas has increased 50 percent over last year, the slowdown of the economy, moderate temperatures, and conservation efforts have created less demand. Although the amount of your total bill depends on how much energy you use, the gas cost portion reflects what we pay producers to make sure we have enough safe, reliable natural gas supply to meet your needs even on the coldest days. We pass through our cost of gas to you with no markups, and we buy our supplies from a variety of sources to make sure we’re getting the best price. |
If your energy bill is higher than expected and you want to verify a meter reading, there’s an easy way to check how much energy you’ve used by reading your meter. That way, you can be sure you’re paying only for the energy you’ve used.
For a correct
reading on dial-type meters, notice the direction each dial turns from 0 to
10. When the pointer is between numbers, read the smaller of the two numbers.
The only exception is when a pointer is between 9 and 0. In this case, you’d
read 9 since the 0 represents 10. If the pointer is between 0 and 1, though,
you’d read 0 since the pointer is starting a new revolution. Be sure to
record the numbers in the same order the dials appear on your meter. Subtract
last month’s reading from the current reading to determine the amount of
energy you’ve used.
If you call us with your meter reading, please be sure to have your account number and the meter reading ready.