When NIPSCO tested the area’s soil to find out how much toxic heavy metals naturally occur there, it included a sample with coal ash in it — making those levels look abnormally high.

Activists say NIPSCO's customers shouldnt have to pay for what they call an incomplete cleanup.

A new report said steel walls near the Michigan City coal plant aren't keeping coal ash waste from getting into Lake Michigan and Trail Creek -- and it will likely get worse over time.

The utility plans to test for toxic heavy metals at about 400 homes and businesses where coal ash was used as fill in construction.

The state said the company failed to timely find or mark some of its pipelines -- which could have caused natural gas explosions.

The state has approved the northern Indiana utility NIPSCOs controversial rate increase. The utility will raise rates for residents while allowing industrial companies to buy potentially cheaper energy elsewhere.

Northern Indiana utility customers held a rally Thursday night to oppose NIPSCOs plans to raise their rates while allowing industrial customers to access lower market prices.

The Merrillville-based utility announced Friday that the wind farms would be in Benton, Montgomery, Warren and White counties and have nearly 300 wind turbines.

NIPSCO expects the move to mostly renewables would cut carbon emissions by 90 percent.

Northern Indiana Public Service Co. serves about 820,000 natural gas customers and 460,000 electric customers across 32 counties.