Columbia Gas of Massachusetts Withdrawing Pending Rate Case

MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Sept. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, a unit of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), today announced it will withdraw its pending rate case and pending settlement following the Sept. 13 natural gas incident in the Greater Lawrence area.

"Our team is fully committed to restoring the affected communities, rebuilding peace of mind and reestablishing trust in our company," said Columbia Gas of Massachusetts President Steve Bryant. "This action is fully necessary at a time when we must maintain our focus on supporting our customers."

The case was originally filed in April 2018 with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU).

As announced earlier this week, Columbia Gas will replace the entire 48-mile cast iron and bare steel natural gas distribution system serving 8,600 customers in the affected areas. A comprehensive replacement plan is expected to be announced as early as this week.

The system in the area will be replaced with new plastic lines that feature modern safety features, including pressure regulation and excess flow valves.

Columbia Gas is in the midst of a multiyear program to modernize its gas distribution system and replace cast iron and bare steel pipeline systems across the state. The commitment to accelerate that work in the affected area, while larger in scale than a typical modernization project, is necessary in light of recent events. The company remains committed to the modernization of all of its pipeline systems.

The Sept. 13 incident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.

About Columbia Gas of Massachusetts
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts delivers clean, affordable and efficient natural gas to over 320,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Massachusetts, the greater Springfield area and the Merrimack Valley.  Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, the company is the largest gas-only provider in the state and is one of NiSource's seven regulated utility companies. NiSource (NYSE:NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands.  More information about Columbia Gas of Massachusetts is available at www.ColumbiaGasMa.com

About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.5 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across seven states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. Based in Merrillville, Indiana, NiSource's approximately 8,000 employees are focused on safely delivering reliable and affordable energy to our customers and communities we serve. NiSource has been designated a World's Most Ethical Company by the Ethisphere Institute since 2012, is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index and was named by Forbes magazine as the top-rated utility among America's Best Large Employers in 2017. Additional information about NiSource, its investments in modern infrastructure and systems, its commitments and its local brands can be found at www.nisource.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/nisource, www.linkedin.com/company/nisource or www.twitter.com/nisourceinc. NI-F

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SOURCE Columbia Gas of Massachusetts