Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) announced it isexpanding its NIPSCO Choice program to an additional 32,000residential customers in the South Bend area this summer and willintroduce the program to Fort Wayne-area residents early next year.In addition, the number of commercial and small industrialcustomers eligible to choose alternate suppliers will increase to10,000.

Customers can sign up for the program beginning Aug. 1. Choicewill again be offered to 50,000 commercial and small industrialcustomers in northern Indiana beginning Aug. 1. Sign-ups end afterthe first 10,000 choose alternate suppliers.

Only 3,300 residential customers of the 50,000 eligible lastyear elected to buy gas from an alternative supplier. And 900 ofthe 1,500 commercial and small industrial customers that wereeligible during the first phase chose to participate.

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