MERRILLVILLE, Ind., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America in recognition of the company's sustainable business practices and performance.

"Being named to the DJSI is another demonstration that we're continuing to make progress on our sustainability strategy - when compared to not only our industry peers, but also the largest companies in North America," NiSource President and Chief Executive Officer Robert C. Skaggs Jr. said. "Our business strategy, including investing billions of dollars a year to modernize our energy infrastructure, is rooted in sustainability and a focus on the long term. This strategic focus benefits customers, the environment, our employees and the surrounding communities where we operate."

Transparent Sustainability Reporting
 For the past five years, NiSource has issued an annual Sustainability Report that tracks the company's progress toward building a tradition of steady growth, customer-focused solutions, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. The 2013 report, published in May 2014, provides an in-depth review of the sustainability efforts across NiSource and its subsidiary companies.

Performance highlights from NiSource's 2013 Sustainability Report included:


    --  Doing the right thing: NiSource was named to Ethisphere's World's Most
        Ethical companies list for the third consecutive year (2012, 2013 and
        2014).
    --  Safe, reliable & modern energy infrastructure: In 2013, NiSource
        invested more than $2 billion in its infrastructure. These investments
        help uphold and improve reliability, safety and flexibility for
        customers, while creating significant economic benefits and reducing
        emissions.
    --  Energy conservation and savings: Residential customers saved more than
        $16 million through energy efficiency programs.
    --  Community investment: NiSource donated about $6.2 million to non-profit
        organizations across its service territory.
    --  Environmental improvements: Ongoing NiSource environmental projects will
        reduce power plant sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 90 percent, and
        the company's energy infrastructure modernization investments will
        further reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, from
        distribution and interstate pipeline systems.
    --  Safe, engaged teams: NiSource employees worked more than 16 million
        hours without injury in 2013, achieving improved safety performance in
        many key categories. NiSource has instituted a number of initiatives
        aimed at instilling a "Safety by Choice" mentality across the company.
    --  Creating shareholder value: NiSource delivered a total shareholder
        return of 36 percent in 2013 - outperforming the major utility indices
        by a wide margin for the fifth consecutive year.

NiSource's 2013 Sustainability Report and related materials are available at http://www.nisource.com/sustainability.

The DJSI North America Index and respective subsets track the performance of the top 20 percent of the 600 largest Canadian and United States companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index. Identified by RobecoSAM, the DJSI evaluates corporations based on a variety of criteria including climate change strategies, energy consumption, human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices. More information about the DJSI is available at http://www.sustainability-indices.com/.

About NiSource
 NiSource Inc., based in Merrillville, Ind., is a Fortune 500 company engaged in natural gas transmission, storage and distribution, as well as electric generation, transmission and distribution. NiSource operating companies deliver energy to 3.8 million customers located within the high-demand energy corridor stretching from the Gulf Coast through the Midwest to New England. Information about NiSource and its subsidiaries is available via the Internet at http://www.nisource.com. NI-F

SOURCE NiSource Inc.