By DENISE RODRIGUEZ
NIPSCO Communications

MERRILLVILLE — No one likes to be in the dark when it comes to a power outage. To enhance communications with their customers, NIPSCO is introducing a new way to report an electric outage.

NIPSCO electric customers can now text the word “Out” to 444111 to notify the utility of an outage at their home or business. With the addition of texting, customers can choose from four ways to report a service outage, all of which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

• Text: Text “Out” to 444111
• Online: NIPSCO.com
• Mobile Device: m.nipsco.com
• Phone: (800) 464-7726

“If a power outage occurs, it’s important for customers to be able to quickly report the issue and to have access to information about the event,” NIPSCO Senior Vice President of Electric Operation Mike Hooper said. “This latest texting option is another example of how we’re working to continually improve service to customers.”

Those who text to report their outage will receive responses to confirm the location and contact information. Once the address has been confirmed, they will receive confirmation of their outage and also be invited to sign up to receive updates on the status of their power outage, including estimated restoration times, via text, email or automated phone message.

NIPSCO does not charge for any texts, however your carrier may charge text messaging and data rates depending on your mobile plan.

To learn more about NIPSCO Alerts, visit NIPSCO.com/Alerts.

Staying Informed During Winter Storm Events

Ice and high winds are two common causes of power outages during the winter months. During major power outage events, NIPSCO will continue to provide updates regarding the current number of customers affected, where outages are located and when power is expected to be restored, using the following channels:

NIPSCO.com/OutageCenter ± Find a real-time outage map, current power outage status and estimated restoration times.

NIPSCO Electric Customers can now text to report electric outages m.nipsco.com — View the same outage map and details on NIPSCO.com from your mobile device.

Facebook.com/NIPSCO or Twitter.com/NIPSCO — Follow NIPSCO’s restoration progress through popular social media channels.

Preparing For Severe Weather

Finally, customers can also prepare for storms by following some simple customer safety tips, including:

Monitor the weather and know what conditions are forecasted for your area.

Check to see if shrubs or trees need trimming or if you have any weak limbs. Be particularly careful
when working near power lines.

Compile a storm preparedness kit, including essential medicines, non-perishable food items and
water, flashlights, portable radios, extra batteries and a manual can opener.

If someone in your family requires life support equipment, make prior arrangements for a back-up
power supply. This may mean having a back-up power supply such as a generator or going to a
health care facility that has back-up power.

Avoid opening the refrigerator or freezer. Food will stay frozen in a fully loaded freezer for 36 to 48
hours if the doors remain closed. If the freezer is half full, the food will generally keep 24 hours.

The public is also reminded to always avoid downed power lines, damaged poles or other hazardous situations. Every downed wire should be treated as if it is a live wire.

Additional tips on staying safe during a power outage can be found at NIPSCO.com.