Candles are lit. Lights are off. The fire is going all day. The thermostat is never above 67 degrees. Despite these cost savings measures, Terry and Ron Achterhof cannot afford this month's bill from Northern Indiana Public Service Company.
"We don't live beyond our means. We live comfortable; he has worked his whole life, now this," Terry Achterhof said.
Their NIPSCO bill skyrocketed this month.
"I screamed my lungs out; it was $1,447 for one month, one month," Achterhof said.
Terry Achterhof says her bill started at $320 last spring and went up to $523 in June. Last month, it rose to $877 and now $1,447. Her husband has diabetes and other health issues. His medication costs hundreds of dollars a month. The big NIPSCO bill has put the retired Chesterton couple in a position where they must make choices.
"I can't make a choice on my diabetes medicine. I can't. Otherwise, I pass away. You know, I have to have my four shots a day in my pills and stuff," Ron Achterhof said.
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The Achterhofs are far from being alone. NIPSCO bills have gone up for so many northwest Indiana customers a Facebook page called NIPSCO Monopoly Madness has been created.
The state of Indiana has approved a series of compounding electric and natural gas rate hikes in recent years. NIPSCO received approval for a 16.3% increase for the next two years. The utility company offered to help the Achterhofs, but only if they met requirements like facing eviction or being behind on their mortgage.
"Why do I have to wait till I lose my house and give up what he's worked so hard for?" Terry Achterhof said.
NIPSCO is referring customers to its website for financial support or budget plans.
A written statement said in part, "We understand that some customers are seeing higher-than-normal bills, and we want them to know we hear them. We know this is frustrating, and we care about what they're experiencing."
"We should be content with our life right now. We're fighting everything. We're fighting everything," Ron Achterhof said.
Customer protests against NIPSCO are planned. The first one takes place outside the company's Hammond office. Another demonstration is scheduled in front of NIPSCO's Merrillville headquarters.