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10-K 1 ni-20151231x10kq4.htm 10-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

þANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015

OR

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission file number 001-16189

NiSource Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware35-2108964
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
801 East 86th Avenue Merrillville, Indiana46410
(Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)

(877) 647-5990

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each className of each exchange on which registered
Common StockNew York

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes þ No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12-b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer þAccelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨Smaller reporting company ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No þ

The aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") held by non-affiliates was approximately $14,408,583,291 based upon the June 30, 2015, closing price of $45.59 on the New York Stock Exchange.

There were 319,741,768 shares of Common Stock outstanding as of February 10, 2016.

Documents Incorporated by Reference

Part III of this report incorporates by reference specific portions of the Registrant’s Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement relating to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 11, 2016.

CONTENTS

Page No.
Defined Terms3
Part I
Item 1.Business6
Item 1A.Risk Factors8
Item 1B.Unresolved Staff Comments13
Item 2.Properties14
Item 3.Legal Proceedings15
Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures15
Supplemental Item. Executive Officers of the Registrant16
Part II
Item 5.Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities17
Item 6.Selected Financial Data19
Item 7.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations21
Item 7A.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk40
Item 8.Financial Statements and Supplementary Data41
Item 9.Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure107
Item 9A.Controls and Procedures107
Item 9B.Other Information107
Part III
Item 10.Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance108
Item 11.Executive Compensation108
Item 12.Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters108
Item 13.Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence108
Item 14.Principal Accounting Fees and Services108
Part IV
Item 15.Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules109
Signatures110
Exhibit Index111

DEFINED TERMS

The following is a list of abbreviations or acronyms that are used in this report:

NiSource Subsidiaries, Affiliates and Former Subsidiaries
Capital MarketsNiSource Capital Markets, Inc.
CGORCColumbia Gas of Ohio Receivables Corporation
ColumbiaColumbia Energy Group
Columbia of KentuckyColumbia Gas of Kentucky, Inc.
Columbia of MarylandColumbia Gas of Maryland, Inc.
Columbia of MassachusettsBay State Gas Company
Columbia of OhioColumbia Gas of Ohio, Inc.
Columbia of PennsylvaniaColumbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc.
Columbia of VirginiaColumbia Gas of Virginia, Inc.
CPGColumbia Pipeline Group, Inc.
CPPLColumbia Pipeline Partners LP
CPRCColumbia Gas of Pennsylvania Receivables Corporation
Crossroads PipelineCrossroads Pipeline Company
NARCNIPSCO Accounts Receivable Corporation
NDC Douglas PropertiesNDC Douglas Properties, Inc.
NIPSCONorthern Indiana Public Service Company
NiSourceNiSource Inc.
NiSource Corporate ServicesNiSource Corporate Services Company
NiSource Development CompanyNiSource Development Company, Inc.
NiSource FinanceNiSource Finance Corporation
Abbreviations
AFUDCAllowance for funds used during construction
AOCIAccumulated Other Comprehensive Income
ASCAccounting Standards Codification
ASUAccounting Standards Update
BBABritish Banker Association
BcfBillion cubic feet
BNSBank of Nova Scotia
BoardBoard of Directors
BTMUThe Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, LTD.
CAAClean Air Act
CAPCompliance Assurance Program
CCGTCombined Cycle Gas Turbine
CCRsCoal Combustion Residuals
CERCLAComprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (also known as Superfund)
CO2Carbon Dioxide
Columbia OpCoCPG OpCo LP
CPPClean Power Plan
DPUDepartment of Public Utilities
DSMDemand Side Management
DEFINED TERMS
DthDekatherm
ECREnvironmental Cost Recovery
ECRMEnvironmental Cost Recovery Mechanism
ECTEnvironmental Cost Tracker
EERMEnvironmental Expense Recovery Mechanism
EPAUnited States Environmental Protection Agency
EPSEarnings per share
FACFuel adjustment clause
FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board
FERCFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
FGDFlue Gas Desulfurization
FTRsFinancial Transmission Rights
GAAPGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles
GCRGas cost recovery
GHGGreenhouse gases
gwhGigawatt hours
hpHorsepower
IBMInternational Business Machines Corp.
IDEMIndiana Department of Environmental Management
IPOInitial Public Offering
IRPInfrastructure Replacement Program
IRSInternal Revenue Service
IURCIndiana Utility Regulatory Commission
kVKilovolt
LDAFLocal Distribution Adjustment Factor
LDCsLocal distribution companies
LIBORLondon InterBank Offered Rate
LIFOLast-in, first-out
LNGLiquefied Natural Gas
MATSMercury and Air Toxics Standards
McfThousand cubic feet
MGPManufactured Gas Plant
MISOMidcontinent Independent System Operator
MizuhoMizuho Corporate Bank Ltd.
MMDthMillion dekatherms
mwMegawatts
mwhMegawatt hours
NAAQSNational Ambient Air Quality Standards
NAVNet Asset Value per Share
NOxNitrogen oxides
NYMEXThe New York Mercantile Exchange
OPEBOther Postretirement and Postemployment Benefits
OUCCIndiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
PCBPolychlorinated biphenyls
PEFPension Expense Factor
DEFINED TERMS
PNCPNC Bank N.A.
ppbParts per billion
PSCPublic Service Commission
PUCPublic Utility Commission
PUCOPublic Utilities Commission of Ohio
RDAFRevenue decoupling adjustment factor
ROEReturn on Equity
RTORegional Transmission Organization
SeparationThe separation of NiSource's natural gas pipeline, midstream and storage business from NiSource's natural gas and electric utility business accomplished through the pro rata distribution by NiSource to holders of its outstanding common stock of all the outstanding shares of common stock of CPG. The separation was completed on July 1, 2015.
SECSecurities and Exchange Commission
SO2Sulfur dioxide
Sugar CreekSugar Creek electric generating plant
TDSICTransmission, Distribution and Storage System Improvement Charge
TUAsTransmission Upgrade Agreements
VIEVariable Interest Entity
VSCCVirginia State Corporation Commission

Next: Item 1. BUSINESS