SOUTH BEND — It's been an expensive winter for many people with cold temperatures driving up heating bills.

Jessica Good of South Bend has a Good Question: Why does NIPSCO use automatic estimates instead of actually reading a meter?

WSBT's Kirk Mason explains.

If you're looking for work you may want to consider meter reading for NIPSCO.

The Indiana Regulatory Commission, which overseas NIPSCO, says NIPSCO is required to read 90 percent of meters each month.

That's unless NIPSCO shows “good cause” for not being able to read meters. Good cause can include weather problems, or not being able to get to the meter.

Beth Roads from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission says good cause for NIPSCO right now is a shortage of meter readers.

NIPSCO told the commission they hope to have the problem resolved later this month or April at the latest.

The Regulatory Commission can launch an investigation if it doesn't think there is good cause preventing the meter readings.

But a commission spokesperson says they're in constant contact with NIPSCO and believes this issue will be resolved.