MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – As summer temperatures rise across northern Indiana and customers rely more on electricity to cool their homes, Northern Indiana Public Service Company LLC (NIPSCO), is taking proactive steps to help customers understand how higher summer energy use can affect their electric bills and what they can do to manage usage and costs during the cooling season.
“We want customers to feel informed and supported as we move into the summer months,” said Vince Parisi, NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer. “By sharing information early, offering tools to track usage and meeting customers in their communities, we’re helping customers understand how seasonal energy use changes throughout the year. It is important that our customers understand how summer electricity use can affect their bills and what options are available to manage it.”
Electricity use is often lowest during the milder spring and fall seasons, which are known as the “shoulder months,” when heating and cooling systems are used less. Energy use begins to increase as temperatures rise in the late spring/early summer, with July and August being typically the highest energy use months of the year. As customers move into the summer cooling season, air conditioners, pool equipment and other appliances may run longer and more frequently, increasing overall energy use. And while weather patterns can’t be predicted with certainty, customers can take proactive steps now to prepare for periods of elevated heat that may drive increased energy use and potential bill impacts.
Energy Saving Tips for the Cooling Season
NIPSCO encourages customers to take simple steps to manage electricity use during hot weather, including:
- Setting thermostats a few degrees higher at night and when away from home while also consider utilizing a Wi-Fi thermostat to save energy.
- Keeping heat-producing items like lamps and TVs away from thermostats helps prevent false temperature readings, which can cause your A/C system to run longer than necessary and use more energy.
- Sealing cracks or openings with weather stripping or caulk helps keep cool air inside and block warm air from entering your home, improving comfort and reducing the amount of energy your cooling system needs to use.
- Plugging electronics into a power strip. That way, you can turn them all off at the outlet, so you aren’t draining energy.
- Scanning your home and unplug dormant electronics and chargers. Even when not in use, many devices still draw power.
- Using ceiling fans to circulate air and turning them off when rooms are unoccupied. Running ceiling fans counterclockwise creates a cooling breeze.
- Closing blinds or curtains to reduce heat from sunlight entering your home.
- Monitor pool pumps, heaters and other equipment, which may run longer than needed and increase electricity use.
NIPSCO also encourages customers to be mindful of energy use during the summer through simple maintenance practices such as changing air filters, having air conditioning units tuned up by a qualified professional, clearing dust from cold air return vents and ensuring appliances are operating efficiently. For more energy saving tips, visit NIPSCO.com/homeenergytips.
Tools to Track and Manage Energy Use
Customers can monitor their electricity usage through the NIPSCO app or online account tools, allowing them to see how daily habits and hot weather impact energy use. Tracking usage can help customers identify trends, spot spikes during extreme heat and make small adjustments that may help reduce costs.
Assistance Programs and Billing Options
NIPSCO offers a variety of programs to help customers manage energy costs, including payment plans, income-eligible assistance programs and Levelized Billing, which can help make monthly bills more predictable during seasonal spikes. Information on these programs can be found at NIPSCO.com/Assistance.
As part of its commitment to supporting customers during high‑use seasons, NIPSCO’s new $1.5 million shareholder‑funded CARE Electric Cooling program will begin in June 2026 to help Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) eligible customers to manage electricity costs during the summer months.
Community Customer Care Centers Offer In‑Person Support
NIPSCO is also hosting Community Customer Care Center events across northern Indiana. These in‑person sessions give customers the opportunity to speak directly with NIPSCO team members and community partners, ask questions about their bills, learn about assistance programs and billing options, and explore energy efficiency tips.
Upcoming Community Customer Care Center events (4–7 p.m. local time):
- Tuesday, June 2 – Century Center, South Bend
- Tuesday, June 9 – Gary Public Library & Cultural Center, Gary
- Wednesday, June 10 – The Pearl, Fort Wayne
