MERRILLVILLE, Ind.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for 2023, recognizing the company as a global leader for its environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) initiatives and ethical standards. It marks the 10th consecutive year that NiSource has been named to the DJSI.
“Earning this designation for an entire decade underscores our longstanding commitment for environmental stewardship and placing our customers, employees, and the communities we serve at the forefront of everything we do,” said Michael Luhrs, NiSource’s Executive Vice President of Strategy and Risk and Chief Commercial Officer. “We are planning for a sustainable future that includes diverse energy options that will help ensure we meet the needs of those we serve for generations to come.”
NiSource’s DJSI recognition comes in part for its progress towards its 2040 goal of net zero by reducing Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, achieving a 67-percent Scope 1 reduction since 2005. The company is also on track to retire all coal assets by 2028, replacing them with renewable energy sources. Its inclusionary focus includes a goal of reaching a 25-percent diverse supplier spend by 2025.
“We firmly believe that folding strong environmental, social, and governance initiatives into our overall business and investment strategies enhances our record of sustainability and adds value for us as a utility company,” said Dan Creekmur, NiSource’s Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer. “Our focus does not stop here. There are opportunities for us to continue strengthening our ESG position as we look to innovative ways to efficiently deliver energy as a trusted community partner.”
The DJSI are float-adjusted market capitalization weighted indices that measure the performance of companies selected using ESG criteria – including practices related to environmental concerns, economic development and inclusion, supply chain standards, and risk management. The DJSI was launched in 1999 as a pioneering global sustainability benchmark available in the market. The index family is comprised of global, regional, and country benchmarks.
ABOUT S&P DOW JONES INDICES
S&P Dow Jones Indices is the largest global resource for essential index-based concepts, data and research, and home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average®. More assets are invested in products based on our indices than products based on indices from any other provider in the world. Since Charles Dow invented the first index in 1884, S&P DJI has been innovating and developing indices across the spectrum of asset classes helping to define the way investors measure and trade the markets. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), which provides essential intelligence for individuals, companies, and governments to make decisions with confidence. For more information, visit: www.spglobal.com/spdji.
About NISOURCE
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,200 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability – North America Index, has been named as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Best Companies and is on Forbes list of America’s Best Employers for Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com. NI-F
Forward-looking statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our plans, strategies, objectives, expected performance, and any and all underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. Expressions of future goals and expectations and similar expressions, including “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “aims,” “seeks,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,” “targets,” “forecast,” and “continue,” reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations discussed in this press release include, among other things, our ability to execute our business plan or growth strategy, including utility infrastructure investments; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; our ability to adapt to, and manage costs related to, advances in, or failures of, technology; impacts related to our aging infrastructure; our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and whether such coverage will protect us against significant losses; the success of our electric generation strategy; construction risks and natural gas costs and supply risks; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs or an inability to obtain an adequate, reliable and cost-effective fuel supply to meet customer demands; the attraction and retention of a qualified, diverse workforce and ability to maintain good labor relations; our ability to manage new initiatives and organizational changes; the actions of activist stockholders; the performance of third-party suppliers and service providers; potential cybersecurity-attacks; increased requirements and costs related to cybersecurity; any damage to our reputation; any remaining liabilities or impact related to the sale of the Massachusetts Business; the impacts of natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events; the physical impacts of climate change and the transition to a lower carbon future; our ability to manage the financial and operational risks related to achieving our carbon emission reduction goals; our debt obligations; any changes to our credit rating or the credit rating of certain of our subsidiaries; any adverse effects related to our equity units; adverse economic and capital market conditions or increases in interest rates; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; our ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; continuing and potential future impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic; economic conditions in certain industries; the reliability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; the ability of our subsidiaries to generate cash; pension funding obligations; potential impairments of goodwill; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings, investigations, incidents, claims and litigation; potential remaining liabilities related to the Greater Lawrence Incident; compliance with applicable laws, regulations and tariffs; compliance with environmental laws and the costs of associated liabilities; changes in taxation; and other matters set forth in Part I, Item 1, “Business,” Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” of the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, and matters set forth in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2023, June 30, 2023, and September 30, 2023, some of which risks are beyond our control.
All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to the future results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.
Contacts
Reginald Fields
Corporate Media Relations
(614) 537-7943
