Around The Region

Indiana homeowners to see drop in heating bill expenses this year\nLaPORTE, Ind. -- Heating bills could drop by as much as 30 percent for Northern Indiana Public Service Co. customers if winter conditions return to normal.\nThat means a residential customer who paid $180 a month last year could pay as little as $126 this winter.\nNIPSCO President Barrett Hatches said increased supply of natural gas coupled with lower demand would bring bills down.\nAt a news conference Wednesday at NIPSCO's LaPorte office, Hatches said there was nothing to suggest that this winter's heating bills would approach the high costs of last year, when colder-than-normal temperatures fueled higher demand. With inadequate natural gas supplies, heating bills skyrocketed.\nThe cold winter sent companies to drill for more natural gas this year, he said.\nAlthough NIPSCO gets much of its natural gas supply from the Southeast, two Canadian pipelines that connect to the Chicago market will add to NIPSCO's potential supply.\nHatches said it would take awhile before demand catches up with the large inventory on hand.\nThe sagging economy also plays a part in lowering demand because the industry uses less natural gas.\nState behind in payments to social organizations aiding disabled\nFORT WAYNE -- The state is three months behind in payments to numerous social services organizations that provide assistance to people with developmental disabilities.\nThe backlog is because of a snafu with the annual contracts governing the services, which were supposed to be finalized by July 1 but are still awaiting approval, The Journal Gazette reported in a story published Thursday.\nOne group, AWS, is waiting for more than $1 million in payments and if that money does not arrive soon, it could mean a cut in services.\nAWS, formerly known as Anthony Wayne Services, provides workshops, job retention programs and residential supervision of those with developmental disabilities living in the community.\nSocial service organizations such as AWS are reimbursed by the state for the programs offered. The money comes from state and federal social service block grants, and the contracts are renewed annually for each program, which has been ongoing for years.\nThe payments are separate from any Medicaid reimbursements, which have not been interrupted.\nBill Swiss, the president of AWS suggested the payment delays might be tied to the state's fiscal crunch. The state is operating under a deficit-spending budget, and tax revenues for the first three months of this fiscal year were $141 million below projections.\nState officials deny that cash flow has played a role in the situation.\nThe problem was blamed on a staff member who failed to complete duties, said Alison Becker, director of fiscal services for the Division of Disability, Aging and Rehabilitative Services.\nBecker said the contracts must go to three offices for approval. Of more than 100 contracts, about 20 are still working through that process. About 80 more have been completed and organizations are now filing reimbursement claims.\nCummins Inc. reports $3 million in profits\nCOLUMBUS, Ind. -- Cummins Inc. on Thursday reported a $22 million drop in third-quarter profits compared with a year ago, primarily because of a 20 percent decline in income from production of diesel engines.\nChairman and chief executive Tim Solso said, however, the company was fortunate to end the quarter with a $3 million profit, or eight cents per share, on revenues of $1.41 billion. That compared with a $25 million profit, or 66 cents a share, in the same quarter last year.\n"I'm pleased that we met our objectives for the quarter and remained profitable despite the worst market deterioration I've experienced in virtually every one of our North American end markets," Solso said.\nThe performance also was an improvement over Cummins $82 million second-quarter loss.\nMarkets are expected to continue deteriorating in the fourth quarter, Solso said.\nThe Columbus-based marker of diesel engines, power generators and other industrial products said third-quarter engine sales were $767 million, compared with $962 million the previous year. The most severe decline came in production of engines for heavy trucks, with a 27 percent drop.\nCummins is the world's largest producer of commercial diesel engines of more than 50 horsepower.\nThe decline in engine sales was partially offset by Cummins' improved performance in the power generation business. Third-quarter sales in that area were $371 million, up 11 percent from the same quarter in 2000.\nThird-quarter sales from industrial filtration equipment and other products were $270 million, down 2 percent compared with last year.\nAt the start of 2001, Cummins employed about 28,500 people worldwide, with about 6,000 of those in Indiana. Net sales in 2000 were $6.6 billion.\nCummins stock was up $1.45 a share to $34.45 in midday trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company's stock peaked this year in May at $45.50 a share.