Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Rate Selection Guide
NIPSCO is a NiSource investor-owned utility serving roughly 734,000 natural gas customers (plus electric service) across 30 counties in Northern Indiana, regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). Commercial and industrial customers access billing and usage data through the MyAccount portal and Oracle/Opower energy platform, with file-based EDI available to gas suppliers via the NIPSCO CHOICE program.
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Rate Schedule Comparison
| Schedule | Type | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate 621 GS-Small | commercial | $38.90/mo + $0.206152/kWh | Small businesses below demand-metering thresholds |
| Rate 623 GS-Medium | commercial | $408.60 (first 10 kW) + $18.65/kW + $0.139905/kWh | Mid-size commercial with measurable demand |
| Rate 624 GS-Large | commercial | Tiered demand $19.66-$20.48/kW + tiered energy $0.109-$0.132/kWh | Large commercial / light industrial up to 25,000 kW |
| Rate 631 Industrial Large | industrial | $35.74/kW + $0.030977/kWh + $0.014689/kWh transmission | Transmission-voltage industrials 10,000 kW+ comfortable with MISO market exposure |
Market Overview
NIPSCO is a regulated investor-owned utility under IURC jurisdiction. Electric generation supply is bundled with no retail choice. For natural gas, the NIPSCO CHOICE program allows qualified suppliers to provide the gas commodity while NIPSCO retains delivery and billing.
Need to pull your actual usage data to compare rates? See the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Data Access Guide →
Current Rate Schedules
NIPSCO's current electric rate schedules took effect with the IURC-approved 2025 rate case, with energy/demand charges most recently revised effective 03/01/2026. Commercial and industrial classes are served under General Service (Rates 621 Small, 623 Medium, 624 Large) and Industrial Power Service (Rate 631 Large). Figures below are taken directly from the filed tariff sheets.
Effective: March 1, 2026 · Full Tariff Book →
| Schedule | Type | Applicability | Structure | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate 621 - General Service Small | commercial | Small general service customers on distribution lines; energy-only (no demand charge). | Customer Charge $38.90/month (three-phase minimum $60.90); Energy Charge $0.206152/kWh for all kWh, plus applicable riders. Effective 03/01/2026. | — |
| Rate 623 - General Service Medium | commercial | Medium general service customers; demand-metered (IDR/DI meter). | Demand Charge $408.60/month for first 10 kW, $18.65/kW for all over 10 kW; Energy Charge $0.139905/kWh for all kWh, plus riders. Minimum = 80% of highest 12-month billing demand, not less than $408.60. Effective 03/01/2026. | — |
| Rate 624 - General Service Large | commercial | Large general service; minimum billing demand 50 kW, max 25,000 kW. | Demand Charge $1,566.00/month for first 50 kW, $20.48/kW for next 1,950 kW, $19.66/kW over 2,000 kW; tiered Energy Charge $0.132014 (first 30,000 kWh) declining to $0.109019/kWh over 1,000,000 kWh. Effective 03/01/2026. | — |
| Rate 631 - Industrial Power Service Large | industrial | Industrial customers at transmission/subtransmission voltage with contract demand of 10,000 kW or more; multi-tier (firm + MISO market) structure. | Tier 1 Demand Charge $35.74/kW/month; Tier 1 Energy Charge $0.030977/kWh; Transmission Charge $0.014689/kWh. Tiers 2/3 priced at MISO Day-Ahead LMP. Effective 03/01/2026. | — |
Rate Recommendations by Use Case
Small commercial / office or retail
Energy-only service with a flat per-kWh charge and no demand metering.
Below demand-metering thresholds, Rate 621's $38.90 customer charge plus $0.206152/kWh is the default. Watch the per-kWh rate as load grows.
- Enroll in paperless billing and budget plan
- Track monthly kWh; rising usage may justify moving to a demand-metered rate
Mid-size commercial with measurable demand
Demand-metered service trading a lower energy rate for a demand charge.
At $0.139905/kWh versus $0.206152/kWh on Rate 621, plus $18.65/kW demand, mid-size loads usually come out ahead once demand is consistent.
- Manage the 80% 12-month demand ratchet by avoiding one-off peaks
- Use Oracle/Opower hourly data to identify peak windows
Large commercial / light industrial
Two-part rate with declining-block energy charges for high-consumption sites up to 25,000 kW.
Declining energy blocks ($0.132014 down to $0.109019/kWh) reward high usage; demand charges step down above 2,000 kW. Power factor and peak management materially affect the bill.
- Correct power factor to avoid the sub-80% penalty
- Take primary/transmission service for the per-kW demand deductions if you own transforming equipment
Transmission-voltage industrial (10 MW+)
Multi-tier industrial service blending firm capacity with MISO market pricing.
A low $0.030977/kWh Tier 1 energy charge plus $35.74/kW demand and MISO Day-Ahead pricing on non-firm tiers can lower cost for sophisticated industrials willing to manage curtailment and LMR requirements.
- Model MISO LMP exposure before electing Tier 2/3
- Plan for 5-year contract terms and curtailment readiness
Historical Rate Trends
NIPSCO's electric base rates were reset in the 2025 rate case (IURC), with new rate sheets issued 06/26/2025 effective 07/01/2025 and a further revision issued 02/27/2026 effective 03/01/2026 reflecting updated demand and energy charges.
July 1, 2025
New electric rate schedules issued 06/26/2025 effective 07/01/2025 under the 2025 rate case.
varies by classMarch 1, 2026
Revised demand and energy charges issued 02/27/2026 effective 03/01/2026 (e.g., Rate 621 energy $0.206152/kWh, Rate 624 lead demand block $1,566.00).
varies by classOverall trend: Upward, driven by the 2025 base rate case and generation transition investments.
Next expected change: Periodic rider/fuel adjustments; next base rate case timing per IURC schedule.
Cost Optimization Strategies
NIPSCO C&I customers can manage cost through correct rate selection, demand management, and power factor improvement, given the demand ratchets and declining-block energy structure.
Confirm the lowest-cost eligible schedule
For: Small and growing commercial accounts
Compare energy-only Rate 621 against demand-metered Rate 623/624; the $0.206152/kWh energy-only rate is expensive for higher-load accounts that would benefit from a demand-metered schedule.
Manage peak demand and the 12-month ratchet
For: Demand-metered commercial and industrial
On Rates 623/624 the minimum bill is 80% of the highest billing demand over the trailing 12 months. Shaving peaks lowers both the demand charge and the ratchet floor for a full year.
Improve power factor
For: Facilities with motor/inductive loads
Rate 624 increases billing demand 1% for each 1% the average power factor is below 80% lagging; correcting power factor avoids the penalty.
Evaluate transmission-voltage industrial service
For: Industrials with 10,000 kW+ demand
Large industrials may take Rate 631 at transmission voltage with a low $0.030977/kWh Tier 1 energy charge plus MISO market access, but must accept curtailment/LMR obligations.
To implement these strategies, you need your 15-minute interval data. Learn how to download Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) interval data →
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NIPSCO electric rate applies to my business?▾
Small accounts without demand metering take Rate 621 (energy-only). As demand becomes measurable you move to Rate 623 (Medium) or Rate 624 (Large, up to 25,000 kW). Transmission-voltage industrials with 10,000 kW or more of contract demand take Rate 631. Eligibility depends on demand level and service voltage.
Can a third party get my NIPSCO usage data automatically?▾
Not through a public API. NIPSCO has no Green Button Connect My Data or Share My Data portal. Automated access is arranged case-by-case via a custom data-sharing agreement (typically 20-30 days), or through Nectar, which provides API access to NIPSCO billing and usage data after customer authorization — see docs.nectarclimate.com. Gas suppliers in the NIPSCO CHOICE program receive data via the EASy EDI system.
Does NIPSCO offer interval data exports?▾
AMI meters capture 15-minute data, but the customer-facing Oracle/Opower portal presents hourly/daily charts and does not offer standard CSV or Green Button XML export. You can print charts to PDF, or arrange a custom agreement for machine-readable interval data.
What is the demand ratchet on NIPSCO's commercial rates?▾
On Rates 623 and 624 the monthly minimum charge equals the demand charge applied to 80% of your highest billing demand over the prior 12 months. A single high-demand month therefore raises your minimum bill for the following year, so peak management is important.
Is NIPSCO electricity deregulated?▾
No. NIPSCO electric service is fully regulated by the IURC with no retail generation choice. Only natural gas has a supplier-choice option through the NIPSCO CHOICE program, where NIPSCO still handles delivery and billing.
Automate Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) Rate Analysis with Nectar
Nectar continuously monitors your Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) rate options and alerts you when a better schedule is available. Save 10-30% on energy costs.
Nectar for Energy & Sustainability Teams
Managing utility costs for commercial or industrial buildings? Nectar offers a free rate analysis — we'll review your current rate schedules and identify where switching tariffs or shifting load can save 10-30%.
Get a Free Rate AnalysisNectar for Energy Brokers & Consultants
Advising clients on rate optimization? Nectar works with energy consultants who need reliable interval data and automated rate comparison tools.
Partner with Us