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Become a Supplier


Credit Evaluation

To become a supplier in our Customer Choice or Gas Distribution Service programs, you will need to undergo a credit evaluation that can take three to four weeks. After you're approved, you're required to complete testing for an encryption file exchange process. To begin, submit the following documents electronically to transportevaluations@nisource.com.


Step 1

Complete the Supplier Information Form

Provide financial information as specified in the Tariff Section 2.4 - Credit Worthiness, including:

  • Credit Reports
  • Bank References
  • Audited Financial Statements, Annual Report, 10K or 10Q prepared in the past 12 months
  • Confirmation that the NGS is not operating under any bankruptcy or insolvency law
  • Confirmation that no significant lawsuits or judgments are outstanding
  • Confirmation that the NGS is not aware of any adverse condition which could cause a material change in financial condition
  • A list of parent company and other affiliates
  • Names, addresses and telephone numbers of three trade references, and/or
  • Additional financial related information as determined by the Company

Submit appropriate fees

  • Submit $100.00 for GDS program credit evaluation fee, and/or
  • Submit $100.00 for Choice program credit evaluation fee
  • Submit $390.00 for Choice program application fee

Please contact the Transportation Support Services Team at transportevaluations@nisource.com for accepted forms of payment.

Step 2

Undergo a UCC-1 search

If you're interested in becoming a Choice supplier, you will also undergo a UCC-1 search and will be required to amend any applicable liens in order to participate in the Choice Accounts Receivable Purchase Program. 

Step 3

Review credit evaluation results

Once the credit evaluation and UCC-1 search have been completed, you will be notified of the results and what (if any) collateral requirements are due and if any liens need to be amended.

Once completed, we will process a credit approval letter “Bonding Letter” needed for the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) licensing approval. All credit evaluations are good for 12 calendar months. If you fail to enroll Choice or GDS customers prior to the expiration of the 12 months, you will need to undergo a new credit evaluation.

Step 4

File Exchange

We conduct business with suppliers of natural gas through an encrypted file exchange. In order to become a supplier on our system, you must conduct system testing to ensure that the integrity of the system and customer data is safe and secure.

To move through the onboarding process, you must provide a key IT contact to conduct testing. Once the key contact has been received and the credit evaluation is complete, we will communicate the requirements and timeline of the required testing. Generally, the testing can take four to six weeks.

To participate in an upcoming file exchange testing, please submit your key IT contact information by the due date to start the process. Our testing due dates are listed below.

  • January 2025: Submission due by January 6, 2025
  • April 2025: Submission due by April 7, 2025
  • July 2025: Submission due by July 7, 2025
  • October 2025: Submission due by October 6, 2025

You can submit your information to transportevaluations@nisource.com.

*Testing takes place on a quarterly basis.

If you have questions concerning the program, please contact us.



Choice Requirements

After you've been notified that you have met all credit requirements (clear UCC, collateral posted, etc.) and have completed or are completing file exchange testing, there are a few final steps required before you can supply gas on our system as a Choice supplier.

Step 1

Attend training

You must review our Choice Supplier training and attend a required touch point call with our Choice, Demand Forecasting, Supply and Capacity, and Nomination Specialists. During the call, team members will provide program updates and answer supplier inquiries.

Required touch point call will be held on the following dates at 9 a.m. ET:

  • January 8, 2025
  • April 8, 2025
  • July 8, 2025
  • October 7, 2025

Choice Supplier training

 

Step 2

Be approved to do business and deliver gas

You must be approved to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, licensed by the Public Utility Commission, and set-up to deliver gas on the following pipelines:

Step 3

Complete and submit documents

After we've received notification that you have been licensed by the Public Utilities Commission of Pennsylvania to participate in the Choice program, you will need to submit the following documents electronically to your assigned representative:

Please do NOT fill out the date on any of these documents.

Step 4

Obtain access to Aviator

We use Aviator, an interactive web-based application, to enable you perform services, such as arranging for the transportation of gas on our system.

Step 5

Meet minimum requirements and send preliminary customer lists

You must meet minimum requirements of 50 customers or a customer group consisting of 53,560 Thm annually. Once you have the required group of customers, email the customer list (including account numbers) to your assigned representative for review. The customer list must be received no later than the 10th of any given month to begin gas flow the following calendar month. 

Step 6

Enroll your customers via File Exchange

Once your representative has reviewed and approved the customer list, you may begin enrolling customers. You must have 50 customers (or corresponding customer group based on usage) enrolled and accepted via File Exchange no later than the 15th of any given month to begin flow the following calendar month.

Step 7

Review rules and regulations

You must adhere to the rules and regulations set forth in the Tariff, as well as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Code.

If you have questions concerning the program, please contact us.

Reference Material

Gas Distribution Service Requirements

After you've been notified that you have met all credit requirements (clear UCC, collateral posted, etc.) and completed file exchange testing, there are a few final steps required before you can supply gas on our system as a Distribution supplier.

Step 1

Be approved to do business

All Suppliers must be approved to do business in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and licensed by the Public Utility Commission.

Step 2

Complete and submit documents

After we've received notification that you have been licensed by the Public Utilities Commission of Pennsylvania to participate in the GDS program, you will need to submit the following documents electronically to your assigned representative and mail the originals to the address provided above: 

Step 3

Obtain access to Aviator

We use Aviator, an interactive web-based application, to enable you perform services, such as arranging for the transportation of gas on our system.

Step 4

Review the Pennsylvania Tariff

Review the Tariff to become knowledgeable of the GDS program guidelines and services.

Once these steps have been completed, you will receive an introduction letter from your assigned representative.

Your assigned representative will be available to assist you with any questions you may have regarding enrollment of your customers and services available for participating in the program.

If you have questions concerning the program, please contact us.

Reference Material