NiSource
An American regulated utility holding company delivering natural gas and electricity through local utility brands in six states.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
NiSource is an American energy holding company whose operating businesses provide regulated natural-gas distribution and electric utility service. Headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, the company serves customers through the Columbia Gas family of local gas utilities and Northern Indiana Public Service Company, commonly known as NIPSCO. Its gas operations serve residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, using a distribution system that includes tens of thousands of miles of pipeline and associated facilities. Its electric business is concentrated in northern Indiana and includes generation, transmission, and local distribution. The company traces its origins to 1912, when Northern Indiana Public Service Company was established. Over time, the business combined with other companies and became part of the Columbia Gas and Electric Corporation. Federal utility-holding-company regulation enacted in the 1930s required major structural changes to the Columbia system, including the separation of electric assets and the development of Columbia Gas as a distinct gas-centered organization. NiSource later became the modern corporate identity for a group of utility and energy businesses. A major turning point came in 2000, when NiSource merged with Columbia Energy Group. That transaction expanded NiSource’s gas distribution, transmission, storage, and related energy interests. In 2015, NiSource separated Columbia Pipeline Group into an independently traded company. The separation transferred Columbia’s interstate transmission, midstream, storage, and related pipeline interests into the new entity, while the local Columbia Gas distribution utilities remained part of NiSource. Columbia Pipeline Group was acquired by TransCanada, now TC Energy, in 2016. NiSource’s business model is primarily based on regulated utility operations rather than commodity trading. Revenues and capital investment are therefore closely connected to state utility regulation, infrastructure programs, customer demand, safety obligations, and approved rates. Its gas utilities distribute domestically produced natural gas, while NIPSCO supplies electricity generated from a mix that has historically included coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and wind resources. The company has also pursued renewable generation and battery-storage development as part of a broader transition in its electricity portfolio. The company has maintained a climate-change policy since 2009. In 2019, it announced the accelerated retirement of five coal-fired generating units and introduced the “Your Energy, Your Future” initiative, which emphasized renewable resources and storage and set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2028. NiSource’s strategic priorities have consequently included system modernization, pipeline replacement, gas-system safety, electric generation transition, reliability, and customer service. NiSource’s history has also included significant regulatory and legal challenges. The 2018 Columbia Gas of Massachusetts gas-distribution disaster in the Merrimack Valley led to a death, injuries, extensive evacuations, prolonged service disruption, criminal proceedings, substantial settlements, and the eventual sale of NiSource’s Massachusetts gas business to Eversource. The incident made operational safety, engineering controls, and utility governance central issues for the company and its regulators.
History
NiSource’s corporate lineage begins in 1912 with the formation of Northern Indiana Public Service Company, an Indiana utility that later became the foundation of the company’s electric and gas operations. During the twentieth century, Northern Indiana Public Service Company combined with other energy businesses and became associated with Columbia Gas and Electric Corporation. The structure of the Columbia system was affected by the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, which required large utility holding companies to reorganize and separate certain operations. The resulting Columbia Gas System became principally associated with natural-gas businesses after its electric utilities were spun off. The modern NiSource organization emerged through a series of combinations and restructurings. In 2000, NiSource merged with Columbia Energy Group. The transaction brought together NiSource’s Indiana utility heritage and Columbia’s gas distribution, pipeline, storage, and related energy assets. For a period, the company operated both regulated local utilities and businesses connected with interstate gas transmission and midstream infrastructure. In 2015, NiSource separated Columbia Pipeline Group into a stand-alone publicly traded company. NiSource shareholders received shares in the new company, which included Columbia Gas Transmission, Columbia Gulf Transmission, Columbia Midstream Group, an interest in Columbia Pipeline Partners, and other transmission, storage, and midstream holdings. The local Columbia Gas distribution companies remained with NiSource. Columbia Pipeline Group was acquired by TransCanada in 2016. This separation materially sharpened NiSource’s identity as a regulated utility holding company. NiSource’s continuing utility system consists of NIPSCO and five Columbia Gas utilities: Columbia Gas of Ohio, Columbia Gas of Kentucky, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Columbia Gas of Maryland, and Columbia Gas of Virginia. Together, the gas businesses serve customers across six states. NIPSCO supplies both gas and electricity in northern Indiana. The company’s electricity portfolio has historically included coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and wind resources, with total operating capability described in company and reference materials as exceeding 3,000 megawatts at the relevant period. Safety and infrastructure became defining themes in the company’s later history. On September 13, 2018, overpressurization and related failures in the Columbia Gas of Massachusetts system caused fires and explosions across three Massachusetts communities. One person died, at least 25 people were injured, and thousands of customers lost gas service. Investigations identified failures involving pressure-control work and system management. Columbia Gas pleaded guilty to violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act and paid a federal fine, while NiSource and its subsidiary faced settlements with residents, businesses, and municipalities as well as the cost of replacing damaged infrastructure and appliances. NiSource subsequently agreed to sell its Massachusetts gas business to Eversource. Environmental transition has been another important theme. NiSource had a climate-change policy in place by 2009 and was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index in multiple years. In 2019, it announced plans to retire five coal-fired units earlier than previously expected and increase reliance on renewable generation and battery storage. The company’s later strategic profile is therefore centered on regulated gas and electric service, infrastructure replacement, reliability, safety management, and a gradual shift toward lower-carbon electricity resources.
- 2019
Your Energy, Your Future initiative
[1]NiSource announces accelerated coal-unit retirements and an expanded focus on renewable generation and battery storage.
- 2018
Merrimack Valley gas disaster
[2]Gas-system failures in Massachusetts cause explosions and fires, resulting in one death, injuries, evacuations, prolonged outages, and extensive legal and regulatory consequences.
- 2016
Columbia Pipeline Group is acquired by TransCanada
[1]TransCanada acquires the separately traded Columbia Pipeline Group, including its interstate and midstream interests.
- 2015
Columbia Pipeline Group is spun off
[1]NiSource separates Columbia Pipeline Group as an independent public company, retaining the local Columbia Gas distribution utilities.
- 2000
NiSource merges with Columbia Energy Group
[1]The merger expands NiSource’s regulated gas operations and adds pipeline, storage, and related energy interests associated with Columbia.
- 1935
Federal holding-company regulation reshapes the Columbia system
[1]The Public Utility Holding Company Act requires major utility holding companies, including the Columbia system, to reorganize and separate certain subsidiaries.
- 1912
Northern Indiana Public Service Company is founded
[1]Northern Indiana Public Service Company, the predecessor of NiSource’s Indiana utility operations, is established.
Products and positioning
A regulated, infrastructure-focused natural-gas and electric utility company emphasizing reliability, safety, system modernization, and lower-carbon generation.
Natural-gas distribution
Columbia Gas local utilities
NiSource’s Columbia Gas utilities distribute natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. Their activities include operating local distribution networks, maintaining gas infrastructure, connecting customers, responding to emergencies, and carrying out regulated system-replacement and modernization programs. The Columbia Gas brands are local operating identities within NiSource’s broader regulated utility portfolio.
Gas and electric utility
NIPSCO
Northern Indiana Public Service Company provides natural-gas and electric service in northern Indiana. Its operations include gas distribution, electric generation, transmission, and local electric distribution. NIPSCO has historically used a mixed generation portfolio including coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and wind, while NiSource has announced a transition toward more renewable generation and battery storage.
Utility service
Natural-gas distribution service
NiSource supplies and distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers through regulated utility systems in six states. The service depends on pipeline networks, pressure-control equipment, storage and supply arrangements, emergency response, meter and customer systems, and state-approved infrastructure investment programs.
Utility service
Electric utility service
Through NIPSCO, NiSource provides electric generation, transmission, and distribution to customers in northern Indiana. The business has included both traditional and renewable sources and has been subject to strategic changes intended to retire coal capacity and expand lower-carbon resources.
Controversies
2018
Merrimack Valley gas explosions
On September 13, 2018, overpressure and related operational failures in the Columbia Gas of Massachusetts system caused fires and explosions in Andover, Lawrence, and North Andover. One person was killed and at least 25 were injured. Residents were evacuated, electricity was shut off during inspections, and gas service to approximately 8,600 customers was disrupted, in some cases for months. Columbia Gas admitted mishandling pressure-monitoring sensors and pleaded guilty to violating the federal Pipeline Safety Act. The company paid a federal fine and entered into substantial settlements with residents, businesses, and municipalities. NiSource later agreed to sell its Massachusetts gas operations to Eversource.
2011
Criticism over lobbying, tax benefits, and executive compensation
Public Campaign criticized NiSource’s reported lobbying expenditures, use of federal tax benefits, and increases in compensation for its top executives. NiSource responded that accelerated depreciation rules changed the timing rather than the total amount of deductions and were intended to encourage capital investment.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Your Energy, Your Future
United States · Indiana
NiSource used the Your Energy, Your Future initiative to communicate a shift in its electric-generation strategy, including accelerated retirement of five coal-fired units and greater investment in solar, wind, and battery storage.
Outcome. The initiative established a stated target of reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2028.
Brand decisions
2019
Accelerate coal retirements and expand lower-carbon generationStrategyBackground
NiSource faced changing environmental expectations and sought to modernize its electric-generation portfolio.
Action taken
The company announced accelerated retirement of five coal-fired units and emphasized solar, wind, and battery storage through the Your Energy, Your Future initiative.
Aftermath
The strategy set a stated goal of reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2028 and reinforced NiSource’s transition toward lower-carbon utility generation.
2018
Exit Massachusetts gas distributionOtherBackground
The Columbia Gas of Massachusetts disaster created major safety, legal, financial, and regulatory consequences for NiSource.
Action taken
NiSource agreed to sell its Massachusetts gas business to Eversource.
Aftermath
The transaction represented a withdrawal from Massachusetts following the explosions and the associated remediation, settlement, and compliance obligations.
2015
Separate Columbia Pipeline GroupM&ABackground
NiSource determined that its interstate pipeline, storage, and midstream assets should operate separately from its regulated local utility businesses.
Action taken
The company completed a spin-off of Columbia Pipeline Group and distributed shares of the new public company to NiSource shareholders.
Aftermath
NiSource retained its local Columbia Gas utilities and became more focused on regulated gas and electric operations. Columbia Pipeline Group was later acquired by TransCanada.
Recent events
- 2019
NiSource announces accelerated coal-unit retirements and renewable strategy[1]
Product generation
Under its Your Energy, Your Future initiative, NiSource announced accelerated retirement of five coal-fired units and greater emphasis on solar, wind, and battery storage, with a stated goal of reducing carbon emissions by more than 90 percent by 2028.
- 2016
TransCanada completes acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group[1]
M&A
Columbia Pipeline Group, which had been separated from NiSource, was acquired by TransCanada, leaving NiSource focused more heavily on regulated local utility operations.
- 2015
NiSource separates Columbia Pipeline Group into an independent public company[1]
M&A · Other
NiSource completed the separation of Columbia Pipeline Group, transferring interstate transmission, storage, midstream, and related pipeline interests to a separately traded company while retaining its local Columbia Gas distribution utilities.
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