Customer Enrollment File Layouts All files should be sent and will be received in ASCII fixed character format. Customer Enrollment File Layout This file is used for enrolling new customers, receiving enrollment results, and changing enrollment information (e.g. prices.). This file layout is for both upload and download. Customer Usage File Layout This file is used to download 12 months of historical customer usage, sent by NIPSCO after a customer enrollment is validated. Customer Billing File Layout This file is used to download any customer bills generated by NIPSCO since the last billing file was downloaded. Current monthly usage is included. Customer Tax File Layout This file is used to download any tax information associated with customer bills since the last tax file was downloaded. Customer Payment File Layout This file is used to download any customer payments or financial adjustments recorded by NIPSCO since the last payments file was downloaded. Customer Address File Layout This file is used to download any customer address changes recorded by NIPSCO since the last address file was downloaded. Customer Reconciliation File Layout This file is used to download information about customers active with a supplier and/or any pending customer changes for a supplier as recorded by NIPSCO since the last reconciliation file was downloaded.

Customer Enrollment File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	Required. The number should be zero filled if necessary.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	The NIPSCO assigned service account ID is required for all transactions except initial enrollments.   When sending an initial enrollment, the customer account number and the meter id will normally be sent.  The service account ID should be filled in with a value that is, at a minimum, different for each meter for a customer.  For example, when enrolling a customer having a single meter, a value of zero may be used for the service account ID.  When enrolling an account having multiple meters, then the service account ID sent with the initial enrollment must be different for each meter.  A sequential or random number will work to avoid a duplicate customer account/service account combination.  The customer's actual service account id will be returned based on the meter id entered.  Subsequent to the initial enrollment, the service account id then must be used in uploads for customer maintenance and will be used to notify the supplier of any billing/financial activity occurring on the account.  The number should be zero filled.
Transaction Type Code	Text	2	19	Required.  'AD' = Add 'CH' = Change 'RE' = Remove 'AB' = Customer was enrolled in the budget program 'CB' = Customer budget amount was changed 'RB' = Customer was removed from the budget 'SV' = Account number change
Status Code	Text	2	21	When sending transactions, the code should be 'PH' = Pending Host Validation. When receiving transactions, the code can be  'ER' = Error 'EX' = Error - Sent to Supplier 'MA' = Maintenance Applied 'ME' = Maintenance Applied and Sent to Supplier 'TR' = Transmitted 'VD' = Verified 'VE' = Verified - Sent to Supplier 'VT' = Voided - The transaction was not processed.
Status Date	Text	10	23	Any valid date can be sent to NIPSCO. Format should be MM/DD/YYYY. Slashes should be included. When the file is returned, the date is the date NIPSCO validated the record.
Effective Date	Text	10	33	Required. Normally, transactions are effective after the customer's next billing date. For new enrollments, the effective date should be the date the customer enrolled with you. Assuming enrollments are sent the day the customer signs up, this will then be the current date.  For example, if today is 10/02/2001 and the customer's next billing date is 10/15/2001, for a new enrollment, gas will flow after the customer bills on cycle at 10/15/2001.  There is a three day billing window, so the actual effective date can be 10/15-18.   In certain cases, the transaction is to be effective immediately.  This might be used for price changes or if for some reason an enrollment was delayed.  To force a transaction to be effective immediately, set the effective date to 04/01/1998. Setting enrollments to be effective immediately should only be used in rare circumstances, as the gas is effectively flowing retroactively, which will cause the monthly nomination forecast to be understated.  An understated forecast will potentially cause unexpected reconciliation charges.    Format should be MM/DD/YYYY. Slashes should be included.
Usage Months	Text	2	43	Number of months of customer usage to return. Can be set to 0, 12, or 36.
Pool Id	Text	9	45	Required. Numeric. This is the id to group NIPSCO customers. (There is one Pool per NIPSCO zone.)
Business Use Code	Text	3	54	Required. Should always = 'GAS'.
Revenue Class Code	Text	2	57	Required. Should always be 80 (that's a zero) unless, as a NIPSCO Supplier, your doing your own customer billing, then spaces.
Service Plan Id	Text	9	59	Numeric, zero fill. This is the assigned service plan number, specific to each supplier. Unless as a NIPSCO supplier, your doing your own customer billing, then zeroes.
Service Plan Option Id	Text	9	68	Numeric, zero fill. This is the supplier service plan option number, examples of billing option types are Fixed Price, Variable Price. Unless as an NIPSCO supplier, your doing your own customer billing, then zeroes.
Service Plan Option Value	Text	16	77	The type of value is based on the Service Plan and Option. Examples are price per therm, percent off. Format is 9(9).9(6). Decimal point should be included, and number and decimal both zero filled. E.g. '000000000.245000'.
(not used)	Text	40	93	Not used - leave spaces.
(not used)	Text	16	133	Not used - make it '000000000.000000'.
(not used)	Text	40	149	Not used - leave spaces.
Error Code 1	Text	2	189	Not used on uploads - make it underscores, '__'. For downloads, if a transaction is in error, it will be returned with one or more error codes. The first error is the most useful. Possible error codes are:  'AT' = Invalid Pool.  The pool number sent is not a valid number for the supplier. 'BL' = Balance Overdue 31+ Days.  Customer must be current to enroll in the choice program. 'CI' = Pool / Service Acct Mismatch.  Indicates the customer is on a rate that does not permit switching to suppliers. This error may also be sent when the incorrect utility meter id is sent, i.e., the electric meter id was sent instead of the gas meter. 'DP' = Duplicate transaction ‘GM’ = Meter is not a gas meter 'IC' = Invalid Cust Acct / Serv Acct.  When sending a change transaction with the customer account and service account, the combination must be a valid combination. 'ID' = Invalid Date Parm.  If the service plan option requires date parameters, the date sent was invalid. ‘IF’ = Invalid Effective Date 'IM' = Invalid Contract Parms 'IP' = Invalid Service Plan.  The service plan option sent for billing has not been defined in the CIS data base. 'IR' = Invalid Revenue Class 'IS' = Ineligible Service Account.  This error may occur if an electric or non-service account is sent with the transaction. 'IT' = Invalid Request Type 'IV' = Invalid Value Parm 'IX' = Invalid Text Parm 'IZ' = Zip Code Ineligible 'MC' = Meter/Customer Account Combination Invalid.  The customer account does not have this meter installed at their service.   'MN' = Meter ID Invalid 'MS' = Meter and SA Combination Invalid 'MZ' = Missing Site Zip Code 'NA' = Supplier Billing Not Allowed 'NP' = Customer Not in Pool 'NV' = Account or meter is not active 'OT' = Other 'PA' = Pending Add.  Indicates customer is currently pending active with another supplier. 'PE' = Invalid Pool 'PM' = Pending Maintenance 'PO' = Parm Value Out Of Range.  Valid ranges for each of the parameters that can be sent have been defined and the parameter sent is out of the range.  If the value is correct, contact NIPSCO to have the range increased. 'PS' = Pending Shut Off 'PT' = Service is pending turn on 'RI' = Revenue Town Ineligible 'RR' = Revenue Class Required 'SO' = Service is off or Service was previously at meter but currently is not 'SR' = Service Plan Required 'SA' = Meter ID Insufficient, SA is Required. 'TF' = Customer may receive termination fee as a result of the switch.  Contact customer and verify they understand there may be a termination fee required from their existing service.
Error Code 2	Text	2	191	See Error Code 1.
Error Code 3	Text	2	193	See Error Code 1.
New Customer Account Id	Text	9	195	This will be returned to you if NIPSCO has changed the Customer Account Id for one of your customers. On upload, make it all zeros.  This will normally only be sent with a SV transaction.
Meter ID	Text	9	204	The Meter ID is required only if the Service Account is not set. Meter ID's, should be entered left justified, starting in the first position of the field. Meter ID's having less than 7 characters, need to contain leading zeroes, and entered at a minimum of 7 characters (RE: 654321 should be entered as 0654321). In all cases, any remaining character positions should be spaces.
New Service Account Id	Text	9	213	This will be returned to you if NIPSCO has changed the Service Account Id for one of your customers. On upload, make it all zeros.
Service Account Status	Text	2	222	Status of Service values are  P- Pending signup A- Active billing F - Final Billed
Budget Payment Plan	Text	9	224	1- 8 month budget 2- 12 month budget 3- Extended Equal payment 5- Easy plan 12 mo. 6- Easy Plan 12 mo. Extended 7- Easy plan 8 mo.
Budget Settle Up Date	Text	10	233	Next budget settle up date.  Format  mm/dd/yyyy
Budget Amount	Text	14	243	Monthly Budget Amount. Format -9(10).9(2)
Remove Reason	Text	2	257	Customer Removed from service reason. Values  CR - Customer Request DQ - Delinquency SO - Shut Off SP - Shut Off for non Payment CA - Customer Account Change. Only sent for SV transaction type.
Billing Cycle	Text	2	259	Monthly Billing Cycle
Campaign Indicator	Text	1	261	Campaign indicatory to identify if an enrollment occurs during a Promoted enrollment period. Values 'Y', 'N', or blank
Residential Indicator	Text	1	262	Residential indicator to indicate if a residential or non-residential service.  Values are  R - Residential N - non Residential The value will be set to a space for transactions that are returned as an error. The value is based on whether the NIPSCO rate the customer is on is defined as a residential rate or a commercial/industrial rate.  For example, a corporation with a facility on a residential rate would be classified as residential.

Customer Usage File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Supplier Interface Usage Type Code	Text	1	19	'C' = Current Usage 'H' = Usage History.
Usage End Date	Text	10	20	Current read date. Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Usage Sequence Number	Text	9	30	Used to keep the record unique in case two usage readings occur on the same day.
Read Status Code	Text	1	39	'B' = Billed 'C' = Cancelled 'V' = Voided 'O' - Other 'N' - No bill- will occur if the customer is not billed in the month due to no meter reading.  The customer will be billed a budget amount and when a reading is obtained, the customer will have a billing calculated, with the dollars recorded as budget deferred. 'H' - Held due to Exception.  Occurs when a statement is calculated but the dollars billed fail a reasonableness check.  If the bill is sent after review, then no additional transaction will be sent.  If the bill is canceled, a cancel billing will be sent. This read status code should be considered a Billed status.
Pool Id	Text	9	40	The pool to which this customer belongs.
Usage Start Date	Text	10	49	Previous read date. Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Usage Days	Text	10	59	Days of usage. Format is -9(9).
Usage Bill Value	Text	13	69	Billed usage. Format is -9(10).9.
Status Date	Text	10	82	Format is MM/DD/YYYY. Value is the current date.
Receivable Create Date	Text	10	92	Format is MM/DD/YYYY.  Using this date, the usage can be linked to the billing and tax information by matching he Receivable Create Date on the billing record or tax record. For “Current” type usage records, this date represents the date the associated receivable record was created and will be equal to the Receivable Create Date on the Billing file and Tax file. For “History” type usage records, this date will be the current date.

Customer Billing File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Marketer Identifier	Text	2	19	The NIPSCO supplier id. Not used by supplier.
Receivable Create Date	Text	10	21	Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Receivable Sequence Number	Text	5	31	Used to keep the record unique in case two receivables occur on the same day.
Pool Id	Text	9	36	The pool to which this customer belongs.
Statement Type Code	Text	3	45	'B' = Regular Billing 'R' = Rebill 'S' = Off-cycle Billing 'C'= Canceled billing.  The billing for this time period is being corrected. 'N' - No bill (customer was not billed for meter read but was probably billed the budget amount)
Receivable Amount	Text	14	48	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Customer Balance	Text	14	62	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Customer Budget Deferred Balance	Text	14	76	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Receivable Disposition	Text	1	90	Receivable status. Values -  V- Billed D - Deferred.
Billing Cycle	Text	2	91	Cycle billed on.
Receivable Type	Text	1	93	Receivable Type Values -  A- Actual B- Budget.
Status Date	Text	10	94	Format is MM/DD/YYYY. Value is the current date.
Usage End Date	Text	10	104	Format is MM/DD/YYYY. Read date of the usage. Using this date, the billing information can be linked to the usage information by matching the Usage End Date on the Usage record.
Revenue Year and Month	Text	6	114	Format is YYYYMM. The Nipsco revenue period to which the billing belongs. Using this value, the billing information can be linked to the payment information by matching the month and year of the Financial Activity Date on the Payment record.

Customer Tax File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Marketer Identifier.	Text	2	19	The NIPSCO supplier id. Not used by supplier.
Receivable Create Date	Text	10	21	Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Receivable Sequence Number	Text	5	31	Used to keep record unique incase two receivables occur on the same day.
Tax Plan Id	Text	9	36	In combination with the Tax Plan Option Id, indicate the tax rate.
Tax Plan Option Id	Text	9	45	In combination with the Tax Plan Id, indicate the tax rate.
Tax Basis Amount	Text	14	54	Amount on which the tax is calculated. Format is -9(10).9(2).
Tax Amount	Text	14	68	Taxes due. This will be zero if customer is tax exempt. Format is -9(10).9(2).
Tax Exempt Indicator	Text	1	82	'Y' = Tax Exempt (no tax due) 'N' = Not Tax Exempt (tax required).
Status Date	Text	83	10	Format is MM/DD/YYYY. Value is current date.
Usage End Date	Text	93	10	Format is MM/DD/YYYY. Read date of the usage. Using this date, the tax can be linked to the usage information by matching the Usage End Date on the Usage record.

Customer Payment File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Financial Type	Text	2	19	'RE' = Refund 'TR' = Transfer 'MC' = Miscellaneous Charge 'PA' = Payment 'SP' = Payment for service receivable balance 'TP' = Payment for tax receivable balance Transactions SP and TP will be sent to suppliers entering into a receivable purchase agreement.  Transaction PS will be sent to suppliers not entering into a receivable purchase agreement.
Financial Activity Date	Text	10	21	Date of the transaction. Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Financial Sequence Number	Text	9	31	Used to keep record unique in event of multiple financial transactions on the same day.
Financial Amount	Text	14	40	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Customer Balance	Text	14	54	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Billed Usage	Text	14	68	Format is -9(10).9(2).
Payment Dispostion	Text	1	82	Receivable status Values -  V - Billed D - Deferred.
Pool Id	Text	9	83	Pool Id

Customer Address File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Marketer Pool Id	Text	9	19	Pool to associate customers to a supplier
Address line 1	Text	30	28	Mailing Address information
Address line 2	Text	30	58	Mailing Address information line 2
City	Text	25	88	City
State	Text	2	113	State code
Zip Code	Text	5	115	Zip code

Customer Reconciliation File Layout

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Field	Format	Length	Position	Comments
Customer Account Id	Text	9	1	NIPSCO's customer account identifier.
Service Account Id	Text	9	10	NIPSCO's service account identifier.
Meter Number	Text	10	19	Customer’s meter number identifier.
Effective Date	Text	10	29	Populated only for active service. Date the customer became active with a supplier. Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Transaction Type Code	Text	2	39	Populated only for pending transactions. Code sent by supplier. Values are: 'AD' = Add 'CH' = Change 'RE' = Remove
SPMNT Effective Date	Text	10	41	Populated only for pending transactions. Scheduled date the pending transaction will become effective. Format is MM/DD/YYYY.
Service Plan ID	Text	9	51	Supplier service plan specific to the supplier
Service Plan Option ID	Text	9	60	This is the code for the billing type, specific to the supplier. Examples of billing types are Fixed Price, Percent Off NIPSCO.
Customer Classification	Text	10	69	Values are: ‘RESID’ – Residential ‘NON-RESID’ – Non Residential
Customer Tax Status	Text	10	79	Values are: ‘EXEMPT’ – Tax exempt ‘NON-EXEMPT’ – Non tax exempt
Customer Last Name	Text	25	89	Customer last name associated to service account.
Customer First Name	Text	25	114	Customer first name associated to service account.
Customer Middle Initial	Text	1	139	Customer middle initial associated to service account.
Complete Customer Name	Text	30	140	Customer name in format of first name, middle initial and last name.
Mailing Address Line 1	Text	50	170	Mailing Address information line 1
Mailing Address Line 2	Text	50	220	Mailing Address information line 2
Mailing Address City	Text	25	270	Mailing City
Mailing Address State	Text	2	295	Mailing State Code
Mailing Address Zip Code Extended	Text	12	297	Mailing Extended Zip Code. Format is XXXXX-XXXXXX.
Service Address Line 1	Text	50	309	Service Address information line 1
Service Address Line 2	Text	50	359	Service Address information line 2
Service Address City	Text	25	409	Service City
Service Address State	Text	2	434	Service State Code
Service Address Zip Code Extended	Text	12	436	Service Extended Zip Code. Format is XXXXX-XXXXXX.
Marketer Pool ID	Text	9	448	The pool to which the customer belongs.
Service Plan Option Value 1	Text	16	457	The type of value is based on the Service Plan and Option. Examples are price per therm, percent off. Format is 9(9).9(6). Decimal point should be included, and number and decimal both zero filled. E.g. '000000000.245000'.
Service Plan Option Value 2	Text	16	473	The type of value is based on the Service Plan and Option. Examples are similar to Value 1. Format is 9(9).9(6). Decimal point should be included, and number and decimal both zero filled. E.g. '000000002.750000'.
Nipsco Service Plan ID	Text	9	489	The Nipsco rate the customer is on. Examples: 311 = Gas Residential 315 = Gas Multi Family Housing 316 = Gas Multi Family Housing 317 = Gas Govt Housing 321 = Gas Gnrl Svc-Small 325 = Gas Gnrl Svc-Large
Nipsco Revenue Class Code	Text	2	498	The Nipsco revenue class the customer is on. Examples: 37 = Commercial Transport-Gnrl Svc 41 = Residential Transport-Htg 43 = Residential Transport-Gnrl Svc 47 = Commercial Transport-Htg 48 = Industrial Transport-Htg

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