The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has approved asettlement agreement that provides for a 6% increase in 'sresidential bills and a 5% to 6% hike in commercial and smaller industrialcustomer bills.

The NiSourceInc. subsidiary had reached an agreement with theIndiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and related parties, including itsindustrial customers, under its rate case application seeking its first suchchange since 2011. The settlement provides for approximately half of NIPSCO'soriginal request last year.

New rates will come into effect in October and will helpNIPSCO recover investments for continued service improvements, according to astatement released July 18.