Share-Based Compensation	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Share-Based Compensation	Share-Based Compensation The stockholders approved and adopted the NiSource Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 11, 2010. The Omnibus Plan provides for awards to employees and non-employee directors of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. The Omnibus Plan provides that the number of shares of common stock of NiSource available for awards is 8,000,000 plus the number of shares subject to outstanding awards granted under either the 1994 Plan or the Director Plan (described below) that expire or terminate for any reason. No further awards are permitted to be granted under the 1994 Plan or the Director Plan. At June 30, 2013, there were 6,742,559 shares reserved for future awards under the Omnibus Plan. Prior to May 11, 2010, NiSource issued long-term equity incentive grants to key management employees under a long-term incentive plan approved by stockholders on April 13, 1994 (“1994 Plan”). The types of equity awards previously authorized under the 1994 Plan did not significantly differ from those permitted under the Omnibus Plan. NiSource recognized stock-based employee compensation expense of $4.4 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, respectively, as well as related tax benefits of $1.4 million for each period. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, stock-based employee compensation expense of $8.7 million and $7.3 million was recognized, respectively, as well as related tax benefits of $3.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2013, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards amounted to $25.2 million, which will be amortized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of 2.1 years. Stock Options. As of June 30, 2013, approximately 0.9 million options were outstanding and exercisable with a weighted average strike price of $22.41. No options were granted during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value for the options outstanding and exercisable was $5.4 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, cash received from the exercise of options was $15.3 million and $21.8 million, respectively. Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, NiSource granted 61,651 restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock, subject to service conditions. The total grant date fair value of restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock was $1.6 million, based on the average market price of NiSource’s common stock at the date of each grant less the present value of any dividends not received during the vesting period, which will be expensed, net of forfeitures, over the vesting period which is generally three years. If the employee terminates employment before the service conditions lapse due to (1) Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or (2) death, the employment conditions will lapse with respect to a pro rata portion of the shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units on the date of termination. In the event of a Change-in-Control (as defined in the award agreement), all unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units will immediately vest. Termination due to any other reason will result in all shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units awarded being forfeited effective on the employee’s date of termination. As of June 30, 2013, 369,795 nonvested (all of which are expected to vest) restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock were granted and outstanding. Performance Shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, NiSource granted 664,776 performance shares subject to performance conditions. The grant date fair value of the awards was $15.7 million, based on the average market price of NiSource’s common stock at the date of each grant less the present value of dividends not received during the vesting period which will be expensed, net of forfeitures, over the three year requisite service period. The performance conditions are based on achievement of certain non-GAAP financial measures: cumulative net operating earnings, that NiSource defines as income from continuing operations adjusted for certain items; and cumulative funds from operations that NiSource defines as net operating cash flows provided by continuing operations; and relative total shareholder return, a non-GAAP market measure that NiSource defines as the annualized growth in the dividends and share price of a share of NiSource’s common stock (calculated using a 20 trading day average of NiSource’s closing price beginning December 31, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2015) compared to the total shareholder return performance of a predetermined peer group of companies. The service conditions lapse on February 29, 2016 when the shares vest provided the performance criteria are satisfied. In general, if the employee terminates employment before February 29, 2016 due to (1) Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or (2) death, the employment conditions will lapse with respect to a pro rata portion of the performance shares payable at target on the date of termination provided the performance criteria are met. In the event of a Change-in-Control (as defined in the award agreement), all unvested performance shares will immediately vest. Termination due to any other reason will result in all performance shares awarded being forfeited effective on the employee’s date of termination. As of June 30, 2013, 1,974,337 nonvested performance shares were granted and outstanding. Non-employee Director Awards. As of May 11, 2010, awards to non-employee directors may be made only under the Omnibus Plan. Currently, restricted stock units are granted annually to non-employee directors, subject to a non-employee director’s election to defer receipt of such restricted stock unit award. The non-employee director’s restricted stock units vest on the last day of the non-employee director’s annual term corresponding to the year the restricted stock units were awarded subject to special pro-rata vesting rules in the event of Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or death. The vested restricted stock units are payable as soon as practicable following vesting except as otherwise provided pursuant to the non-employee director’s election to defer. As of June 30, 2013, 145,942 restricted stock units are outstanding to non-employee directors under the Omnibus Plan. Only restricted stock units remain outstanding under the prior plan for non-employee directors, the Amended and Restated Non-employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (the “Director Plan”). All such awards are fully vested and shall be distributed to the directors upon their separation from the Board. As of June 30, 2013, 181,106 restricted stock units remain outstanding under the Director Plan and as noted above no further shares may be awarded under the Director Plan. 401(k) Match, Profit Sharing and Company Contribution. NiSource has a voluntary 401(k) savings plan covering eligible employees that allows for periodic discretionary matches as a percentage of each participant’s contributions in newly issued shares of common stock. NiSource also has a retirement savings plan that provides for discretionary profit sharing contributions of shares of common stock to eligible employees based on earnings results; and eligible exempt employees hired after January 1, 2010, receive a non-elective company contribution of three percent of eligible pay in shares of common stock. For the quarters ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, NiSource recognized 401(k) match, profit sharing and non-elective contribution expense of $7.9 million and $6.9 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, NiSource recognized 401(k) match, profit sharing and non-elective contribution expense of $14.3 million and $12.7 million, respectively.

Share-Based Compensation

The stockholders approved and adopted the NiSource Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 11, 2010. The Omnibus Plan provides for awards to employees and non-employee directors of incentive and nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units, cash-based awards and other stock-based awards. The Omnibus Plan provides that the number of shares of common stock of NiSource available for awards is 8,000,000 plus the number of shares subject to outstanding awards granted under either the 1994 Plan or the Director Plan (described below) that expire or terminate for any reason. No further awards are permitted to be granted under the 1994 Plan or the Director Plan. At June 30, 2013, there were 6,742,559 shares reserved for future awards under the Omnibus Plan.

Prior to May 11, 2010, NiSource issued long-term equity incentive grants to key management employees under a long-term incentive plan approved by stockholders on April 13, 1994 (“1994 Plan”). The types of equity awards previously authorized under the 1994 Plan did not significantly differ from those permitted under the Omnibus Plan.

NiSource recognized stock-based employee compensation expense of $4.4 million and $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, respectively, as well as related tax benefits of $1.4 million for each period. For the six months ended June 30, 2013, and 2012, stock-based employee compensation expense of $8.7 million and $7.3 million was recognized, respectively, as well as related tax benefits of $3.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively.

As of June 30, 2013, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested awards amounted to $25.2 million, which will be amortized over the weighted-average remaining requisite service period of 2.1 years.

Stock Options. As of June 30, 2013, approximately 0.9 million options were outstanding and exercisable with a weighted average strike price of $22.41. No options were granted during the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012. As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value for the options outstanding and exercisable was $5.4 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, cash received from the exercise of options was $15.3 million and $21.8 million, respectively.

Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, NiSource granted 61,651 restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock, subject to service conditions. The total grant date fair value of restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock was $1.6 million, based on the average market price of NiSource’s common stock at the date of each grant less the present value of any dividends not received during the vesting period, which will be expensed, net of forfeitures, over the vesting period which is generally three years. If the employee terminates employment before the service conditions lapse due to (1) Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or (2) death, the employment conditions will lapse with respect to a pro rata portion of the shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units on the date of termination. In the event of a Change-in-Control (as defined in the award agreement), all unvested shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units will immediately vest. Termination due to any other reason will result in all shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units awarded being forfeited effective on the employee’s date of termination. As of June 30, 2013, 369,795 nonvested (all of which are expected to vest) restricted stock units and shares of restricted stock were granted and outstanding.

Performance Shares. During the six months ended June 30, 2013, NiSource granted 664,776 performance shares subject to performance conditions. The grant date fair value of the awards was $15.7 million, based on the average market price of NiSource’s common stock at the date of each grant less the present value of dividends not received during the vesting period which will be expensed, net of forfeitures, over the three year requisite service period. The performance conditions are based on achievement of certain non-GAAP financial measures: cumulative net operating earnings, that NiSource defines as income from continuing operations adjusted for certain items; and cumulative funds from operations that NiSource defines as net operating cash flows provided by continuing operations; and relative total shareholder return, a non-GAAP market measure that NiSource defines as the annualized growth in the dividends and share price of a share of NiSource’s common stock (calculated using a 20 trading day average of NiSource’s closing price beginning December 31, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2015) compared to the total shareholder return performance of a predetermined peer group of companies. The service conditions lapse on February 29, 2016 when the shares vest provided the performance criteria are satisfied. In general, if the employee terminates employment before February 29, 2016 due to (1) Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or (2) death, the employment conditions will lapse with respect to a pro rata portion of the performance shares payable at target on the date of termination provided the performance criteria are met. In the event of a Change-in-Control (as defined in the award agreement), all unvested performance shares will immediately vest. Termination due to any other reason will result in all performance shares awarded being forfeited effective on the employee’s date of termination. As of June 30, 2013, 1,974,337 nonvested performance shares were granted and outstanding.

Non-employee Director Awards. As of May 11, 2010, awards to non-employee directors may be made only under the Omnibus Plan. Currently, restricted stock units are granted annually to non-employee directors, subject to a non-employee director’s election to defer receipt of such restricted stock unit award. The non-employee director’s restricted stock units vest on the last day of the non-employee director’s annual term corresponding to the year the restricted stock units were awarded subject to special pro-rata vesting rules in the event of Retirement or Disability (as defined in the award agreement), or death. The vested restricted stock units are payable as soon as practicable following vesting except as otherwise provided pursuant to the non-employee director’s election to defer. As of June 30, 2013, 145,942 restricted stock units are outstanding to non-employee directors under the Omnibus Plan.

Only restricted stock units remain outstanding under the prior plan for non-employee directors, the Amended and Restated Non-employee Director Stock Incentive Plan (the “Director Plan”). All such awards are fully vested and shall be distributed to the directors upon their separation from the Board. As of June 30, 2013, 181,106 restricted stock units remain outstanding under the Director Plan and as noted above no further shares may be awarded under the Director Plan.

401(k) Match, Profit Sharing and Company Contribution. NiSource has a voluntary 401(k) savings plan covering eligible employees that allows for periodic discretionary matches as a percentage of each participant’s contributions in newly issued shares of common stock. NiSource also has a retirement savings plan that provides for discretionary profit sharing contributions of shares of common stock to eligible employees based on earnings results; and eligible exempt employees hired after January 1, 2010, receive a non-elective company contribution of three percent of eligible pay in shares of common stock. For the quarters ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, NiSource recognized 401(k) match, profit sharing and non-elective contribution expense of $7.9 million and $6.9 million, respectively. For the six months ended June 30, 2013 and 2012, NiSource recognized 401(k) match, profit sharing and non-elective contribution expense of $14.3 million and $12.7 million, respectively.