Soaring NIPSCO bills leave families struggling across Northwest Indiana

INDIANA - Fox Chicago continues to get calls and messages about high NIPSCO bills. One man said he's on the verge of moving back to Illinois.

What we know:

Several Hoosiers say they plan to protest outside NIPSCO Corporate headquarters in Merrillville, Ind. next Wednesday, as well as Sunday outside its regional office in Hammond.

In Northwest Indiana, people continue to send Fox Chicago their recent NIPSCO bills – one for almost $900. While another one had delivery charges that are more than the actual gas used.

RELATED: Indiana lawmakers seek answers as NIPSCO customers face rising bills

Lucas Gallup, of Merrillville, who was on his way to work overnights at Walmart, said he is struggling. He has an apartment with his fiancé and two kids.

They pay about $1,500 a month in rent and their recent NIPSCO bill was more than $500. The month before, the bill says it was nearly $229.

The bill also shows their usage went up dramatically, but Gallup told us they didn't change their habits, nor did they crank up the heat more than they did the previous year.

"This just came out of nowhere," said Gallup. "We have two kids, so you want to keep the apartment warm. I don't know if I can afford groceries for the next two weeks, because I'm getting paid bi-weekly, that's scary."

Gallup said he and his family moved to Indiana because he thought they would be able to save money. Now, they're on the verge of moving back to Illinois.

"It's just like finding a new place isn't exactly a calm situation to be in either," Gallup said. "Like you're going through all of these application fees and this process and then hoping places get back to you and until then I'm stuck paying this bill that's way overpriced and putting me in a position where I don't know if I can feed my family."

After Indiana lawmakers approved a utility relief bill, some critics thought it didn't go far enough, because it doesn't provide immediate financial relief for Indiana residents. Fox Chicago reached out to the bill's author, Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler, R-Noblesville. A spokesperson for the Indiana House Republicans told us Shonkwiler was not available for an on-camera interview but sent a statement saying:

"I authored House Bill 1002 to address the rising cost of utility services and provide meaningful relief to Hoosiers. As written, the bill modernizes our rate system, expands assistance programs, strengthens accountability for utility companies, and brings greater stability for consumers. I appreciate the work of my colleagues to improve this legislation and am confident that, in its current form, it will deliver tangible results for families across our state. I am grateful to all who have supported and worked toward our shared goals, and I look forward to ushering this bill across the finish line."

Fox Chicago followed up with Indiana House Republicans to ask if lawmakers plan to give immediate financial relief for Indiana residents on their utility bills, but we haven't heard back. Some have started an online petition demanding Governor Mike Braun and Indiana lawmakers provide more oversight over NIPSCO, and provide them with more options for utilities. The petition, listed as "The People's Housing Union" claims the state is not holding them accountable, which is resulting in unusually high utility bills in recent months. 

RELATED: Indiana lawmakers approve utility relief bill, but does it go far enough?

What's next:

Fox Chicago reached out to NIPSCO once again for comment and haven't heard back.

But on the same day as a protest in one week, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is holding a hearing about NIPSCO — where they're under investigation for its billing practices. There's also a protest scheduled for Sunday afternoon outside of NIPSCO's regional office in Hammond.