Choose Green PowerSM
Green PowerSM is a voluntary program that allows customers to designate a portion or all of their monthly electric usage to come from power generated by renewable energy sources, such as wind power.
How does the program work?
When you participate in the Green PowerSM program, you’re supporting the advancement of renewable power sources. You can select to participate at a 25%, 50%, or 100% participation level. Business accounts have the added flexibility to designate a 5% or 10% participation level.
Your selected participation level represents the percentage of your monthly electric usage that will be matched with the equivalent amount of renewable energy certificates (RECs), which NIPSCO will purchase on your behalf. Each REC represents one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity that is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. The purchase of RECs helps build a market for renewable electricity and may have other environmental benefits, like reducing regional air pollution.
You’ll continue to receive your electricity bill from NIPSCO, and you can change your participation level or cancel at any time, without fees.
Green PowerSM is Green-e® Energy certified and meets the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Learn more at www.green-e.org.
How much does the program cost?
If you enroll in Green PowerSM, you’ll pay a monthly premium in addition to NIPSCO’s standard, regulated electric rate, which will be billed as a new line item on your billing statement. The added costs are passed directly to you, with no markup or financial return for NIPSCO. If you’re not participating in this program, you’re not responsible for any charges associated with making this program available to our other customers.
Our current Green PowerSM rate is $0.000932 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This rate is subject to change, depending on the source of renewable energy certificates and number of participants in the program, and may be adjusted once each year, through filings with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The following example shows the cost to participate in Green PowerSM, based on each participation level, for a customer with average monthly residential electric usage of 1,000 kilowatt-hours.
See more estimated monthly cost examples
Examples of estimated monthly program costs based on your choices
The participation level you select allows you to match your entire monthly electric usage with power generated from renewable energy sources using the 100% participation level, and you also have the option to match only 50% or 25% of your monthly usage.
The additional program cost is then calculated by multiplying 0.001992 cents per kWh by the number of kWh that you designated for Green Power participation, and added as a separate line item on your bill.
100% Participation Level2
1,000 kWh used x 100% participation level = 1,000 kWh applied to Green Power
1,000 Green Power kWh x $0.000932 = $0.93 per month for Green Power
50% Participation Level2
1,000 kWh used x 50% participation level = 500 kWh applied to Green Power
500 Green Power kWH X $0.000932 = $0.47 per month for Green Power
25% Participation Level2
1,000 kWh used x 25% participation level = 250 kWh applied to Green Power
250 Green Power kWH x $0.000932 = $0.23 per month for Green Power
2 Actual cost will be calculated by NIPSCO and will vary from month to month according to your actual kilowatt hours used.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a renewable energy certificate (REC)?
For more information about RECs, please visit the EPA website at https://www.epa.gov/green-power-markets/renewable-energy-certificates-recs.
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Why is NIPSCO offering the Green Power program?
The Green Power program offers our customers access to renewable energy resources, helping build a market for renewable energy and may provide other environmental benefits, such as reducing their carbon footprint.
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Does NIPSCO make money from the Green Power program?
NIPSCO does not make any money from this program. Participation fees go directly toward the procurement of RECs on your behalf.
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Do customers or NIPSCO get tax credits from Green Power?
Customers do not receive tax credits for participating in the Green Power program nor does NIPSCO receive tax credits for offering the Green Power program.
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Will renewable energy come directly to my home?
Renewable energy does not come directly to your home; instead, NIPSCO purchases RECs on your behalf as part of the Green Power program to offset your usage with renewable energy.
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What are renewable energy sources?
Sources of REC renewable energy may include solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower without dams, biofuels, and hydrogen fuel cells.
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What are the benefits of renewable energy?
Renewable energy produces no greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and reduces some types of air pollution.
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How does my purchase of RECs support renewable electricity production in Midwestern states?
RECs to support the Green Power Program are purchased from generation located in the Midwest (currently South Dakota and Iowa)
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How will my money be used, and what am I supporting through my participation?
The money will be used to purchase RECs to offset your usage with renewable energy and support generation that produces no greenhouse gas emissions.
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Is there a cancellation fee if I decide to leave the program?
You can end your participation in the Green Power Program at any time by contacting NIPSCO Customer Service at 1-800-464-7726. Your termination will be effective immediately.
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Why isn’t the program cost built into rates?
Renewable energy tends to cost more than traditional fossil fuel generation. NIPSCO is committed to keeping rates affordable for customers and has introduced Green Power as a voluntary program. If you are interested in supporting renewable energy, enrollment in Green Power is available at the designated percentage (25%, 50%, or 100%) that is best for you.
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