NiSource Fourth-Best Utility in Newsweek 'Green Rankings'

November 6, 2009

Strong environmental practices and management systems cited

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) has been ranked fourth out of 37 U.S. utilities in Newsweek Magazine's "Green Rankings" of the nation's largest corporations.

Newsweek and three research partners compiled the rankings by assessing each company's resource use and emissions; policies and strategies; and reputation among peers. The nation's 500 largest companies, as measured by revenue, market capitalization and number of employees, were broken out into 15 sectors.

NiSource was ranked fourth among companies in the utility industry sector and 211th overall. NiSource's "Green Policies" score - an assessment of a company's environmental policies and performance - was first in the utility sector and 40th among all companies in the ranking.

"NiSource's strong ranking on the Newsweek Green List is consistent with our ongoing commitment to sustainability, contemporary governance practices, and a solid foundation of core business values," NiSource President & CEO Robert C. Skaggs Jr. noted. "By this measure and others, we are making tangible progress on our path to becoming North America's premier regulated energy company."

Newsweek's complete Green Rankings are available online at http://greenrankings.newsweek.com/.

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 3.7 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

SOURCE NiSource Inc.