A. Guarantees and Indemnities. We and certain of our subsidiaries enter into various agreements providing financial or performance assurance to third parties on behalf of certain subsidiaries as a part of normal business. Such agreements include guarantees and stand-by letters of credit. These agreements are entered into primarily to support or enhance the creditworthiness otherwise attributed to a subsidiary on a stand-alone basis, thereby facilitating the extension of sufficient credit to accomplish the subsidiaries’ intended commercial purposes. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had issued stand-by letters of credit of $10.2 million.

B. Legal Proceedings. On September 13, 2018, a series of fires and explosions occurred in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts related to the delivery of natural gas by Columbia of Massachusetts (the "Greater Lawrence Incident"). The Greater Lawrence Incident resulted in one fatality and a number of injuries, damaged multiple homes and businesses, and caused the temporary evacuation of significant portions of each municipality. The Massachusetts Governor’s Office declared a state of emergency, authorizing the Massachusetts DPU to order another utility company to coordinate the restoration of utility services in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. The incident resulted in the interruption of gas service for approximately 7,500 gas meters, the majority of which served residences and approximately 700 of which served businesses, and the interruption of

We are subject to inquiries and investigations by federal and state government authorities and regulatory agencies regarding the Greater Lawrence Incident. The NTSB has concluded its investigation. The U.S Attorney’s office, the SEC, and the Massachusetts DPU have pending investigations related to the Greater Lawrence Incident, as described below. We are also subject to inquiries by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. We are cooperating with all inquiries and investigations. The outcomes and impacts of the current investigations and any future investigations that may be commenced related to such inquiries are uncertain at this time.

According to the preliminary public report that the NTSB issued on October 11, 2018, an over-pressurization of a low-pressure gas distribution system occurred that was related to work being done on behalf of Columbia of Massachusetts on a pipeline replacement project in Lawrence. According to the report, sensing lines detected a drop in pressure in a portion of mainline that was being abandoned, causing a regulator to open up and increase pressure in the system to a level that exceeded the maximum allowable operating pressure of the distribution system.

On November 14, 2018, the NTSB issued an urgent safety recommendation report regarding natural gas distribution system project development and review. In its report, the NTSB identified certain factors that it believes contributed to the Greater Lawrence Incident and made safety recommendations. The NTSB recommended that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts eliminate the professional engineer licensure exemption for public utility work and require a professional engineer’s seal on public utility engineering drawings, which is now law in Massachusetts. The NTSB also made recommendations to us related to engineering plan and constructability review processes, records and documentation, management of change processes, and control procedures during modifications to gas mains. We implemented these recommendations. As of September 24, 2019, each of these recommendations has been closed by the NTSB based on acceptable action.

Since the Greater Lawrence Incident, we have identified and proceeded with additional steps to enhance system safety and reliability and to safeguard against future over-pressurization events. Some of these measures have already been completed and others are in process. These Company-wide safety measures include enhanced measures as called for in the NTSB’s recommendations. For example, we have committed to a program to install over-pressurization protection devices on all of our low-pressure systems, which is described in “- D. Other Matters.”

On September 24, 2019, the NTSB held a public board meeting regarding the probable cause of the Greater Lawrence Incident. The NTSB issued an abstract of its final report following the meeting, and its final report on October 24, 2019. The NTSB stated that it had determined that the probable cause of the over-pressurization of the natural gas distribution system and the resulting fires and explosions was Columbia of Massachusetts’ weak engineering management that did not adequately plan, review, sequence, and oversee the construction project that led to the abandonment of a cast iron main without first relocating regulator sensing lines to the new polyethylene main. The NTSB also stated that contributing to the incident was a low-pressure natural gas distribution system designed and operated without adequate overpressure protection. The NTSB issued its findings in connection with its investigation of the incident and new safety recommendations to PHMSA, certain other states, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, and the Company. The one new safety recommendation that was directed to the Company requires the Company to review its protocols and training for responding to large-scale emergency events.

Massachusetts Regulatory Matters. Under Massachusetts law, the DPU is authorized to investigate potential violations of pipeline safety regulations and to assess a civil penalty of up to $218,647 for a violation of federal pipeline safety regulations. A separate violation occurs for each day of violation up to $2.2 million for a related series of violations. The Massachusetts DPU also is authorized to investigate potential violations of the Columbia of Massachusetts emergency response plan and to assess penalties of up to $250,000 per violation per day, or up to $20 million per related series of violations. Further, as a result of the declaration of emergency by the Governor, the DPU is authorized to investigate potential violations of the DPU's operational directives during the restoration efforts and assess penalties of up to $1 million per violation. Pursuant to these authorities, the DPU is investigating the Greater Lawrence Incident. Columbia of Massachusetts will likely be subject to potential compliance actions related to the Greater Lawrence Incident and the restoration work following the incident, the timing and outcomes of which are uncertain at this time.

After the Greater Lawrence Incident, the Massachusetts DPU retained an independent evaluator to conduct a statewide examination of the safety of the natural gas distribution system and the operational and maintenance functions of natural gas companies in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Through authority granted by the Massachusetts Governor under the state of emergency, the Chair of the Massachusetts DPU has directed all natural gas distribution companies operating in the Commonwealth to fund the statewide examination. The statewide examination is underway and we have responded to the evaluator’s information requests. The Phase I report, which was issued on May 15, 2019, included a program level assessment and evaluation of natural gas distribution companies. The Phase I report's conclusions were statewide and contained no specific conclusions about Columbia of Massachusetts. The evaluation remains in Phase II, which is focused on field assessments of each individual gas company and is expected to conclude later this year.

On November 30, 2018, Columbia of Massachusetts entered into a consent order with the Massachusetts DPU in connection with a notice of probable violation issued in March 2018, stemming from a 2016 report. The Division found that Columbia of Massachusetts violated certain pipeline safety regulations related to pressure limiting and regulating stations in Taunton, Massachusetts. As part of the consent order, Columbia of Massachusetts was fined $75,000 and entered into a compliance agreement under which it agreed to take several actions related to its pressure regulator stations within various timeframes, including the adoption of a Pipeline Safety Management System ("SMS"), the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) Recommended Practice 1173. Columbia of Massachusetts is complying with the order.

On December 17, 2018, the Massachusetts DPU issued an order requiring Columbia of Massachusetts to enter into an agreement with a Massachusetts-based engineering firm to monitor Columbia of Massachusetts’ remaining restoration and recovery work in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts. The order requires Columbia of Massachusetts to take measures to ensure that adequate heat and hot water and gas appliances are provided to all affected properties, repave all affected streets, roadways, sidewalks and other areas in accordance with applicable DPU standards and precedents, consult with the affected communities and discuss plans for restoring affected hard or soft surfaces, and replace all gas boilers and furnaces and other gas-fired equipment at affected residences. Under the order, all restoration work beginning in 2019 was required to be completed no later than October 31, 2019, unless an earlier or later date is agreed to with any of the affected communities. We previously agreed to complete the gas appliance replacement work by September 15, 2019, and completed the work ahead of schedule as announced on August 15, 2019. We reached an agreement with the affected communities with regard to the timing and scope of hard and soft surface repairs, which is discussed in "Private Actions" below. On June 11, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued an order requiring Columbia of Massachusetts to comply with the terms of the agreement reached with the affected communities for the restoration of hard and soft surfaces. Also, under both the December 17, 2018 and June 11, 2019 orders, Columbia of Massachusetts is required to maintain quantitative measures, which must be verified by officials of the affected communities, to track its progress in completing all of the remaining work. Estimates for the cost of this work are included in the estimated ranges of loss noted below, which is discussed in “- D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration" and " - Greater Lawrence Pipeline Replacement” below. Our failure to adhere to any of the requirements in the order may result in penalties of up to $1 million per violation.

In the third quarter of 2019, the Massachusetts DPU initiated several new investigations into Columbia of Massachusetts related to the restoration and other work following the Greater Lawrence Incident, as described below. Under Massachusetts law, the Massachusetts DPU is authorized to conduct investigations and assess fines and penalties as described above. The matters described below are pursuant to such authorization and are subject to the assessment of fines and penalties.

In August 2019, the Massachusetts DPU initiated an investigation regarding pressure monitoring and potential violations of pipeline safety regulations in connection with the installation of a slam shut device and the operating procedures used to install such devices. The DPU also initiated an investigation regarding instances of possible violations of internal guidelines and state and/or federal pipeline safety regulations in connection with Columbia of Massachusetts’ project after the Greater Lawrence Incident to validate regulator station drawings and verify control line location and installation.

In September 2019, the Massachusetts DPU initiated an investigation into potential violations of state and/or federal pipeline safety regulations in connection with abandoned service lines. The Chair of the Massachusetts DPU issued an emergency order directing Columbia of Massachusetts to take several specific actions to address concerns related to service lines abandoned during the restoration work following the Greater Lawrence Incident and to furnish certain information and periodic reports to the DPU. Estimates for the cost of this work are included in the estimated ranges of loss noted below, which is discussed in “- D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration" below. In addition, the Massachusetts DPU issued a Hearing Officer’s Memorandum directing Columbia of Massachusetts to file a detailed report concerning its emergency response to the Greater Lawrence Incident and subsequent restoration of service.

On September 27, 2019, the City of Lawrence inadvertently closed a gas valve that had been incorrectly marked as a water valve, which severed a new pipeline main that Columbia of Massachusetts had installed during the restoration work following the Greater Lawrence Incident, resulting in the release of gas into sewer lines, other underground conduits and homes in the area. Approximately 150 homes and businesses were evacuated and electric power was turned off by the power company as a safety precaution to approximately 1,400 customers. The Massachusetts DPU is investigating whether, during the restoration efforts following the Greater Lawrence Incident, Columbia Gas failed to follow required procedures for the abandonment of valve boxes.

On October 1, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued four orders to Columbia of Massachusetts in connection with the service lines abandoned during the Greater Lawrence Incident restoration, which require: (1) the submission of a detailed work plan to the DPU, (2) the completion of quality control work on certain abandoned services, (3) the payment for a third-party independent audit, to be contracted through the DPU, of all gas pipeline work completed as part of the incident restoration effort, and (4) prompt and full response to any requests for information by the third-party auditor. The audit will evaluate compliance with Massachusetts and federal law, as well as any other operational or safety risks that may be posed by the pipeline work. The audit will investigate Columbia of Massachusetts' operations in the Lawrence Division and other service territories as appropriate, either independently or as part of the statewide gas safety assessment already underway. Estimates for the cost of this work are included in the estimated ranges of loss noted below, which is discussed in “- D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration" below. Also in October 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued three additional orders requiring: (1) daily leak surveillance and reporting in areas where abandoned services are located, (2) completion by November 15, 2019 of the work plan previously submitted describing how Columbia of Massachusetts will address the estimated 2,200 locations at which an inside meter set was moved outside the property as part of the abandoned service work completed during the Greater Lawrence Incident restoration, and (3) submission of a report by December 2, 2019 showing any patterns, trends or correlations among the noncompliant work related to the abandonment of service lines, gate boxes and curb boxes during the incident restoration.

On October 3, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU notified Columbia of Massachusetts that, absent DPU approval, it is currently allowed to perform only emergency work on its gas distribution system throughout its service territories in Massachusetts. The restrictions do not apply to Columbia of Massachusetts’ ongoing work to address the previously identified issues with abandoned service lines and valve boxes in the Greater Lawrence, Massachusetts area. Columbia of Massachusetts is subject to daily monitoring by the DPU on any work that Columbia of Massachusetts conducts in Massachusetts. Such restrictions on work remain in place until modified by the DPU.

On October 25, 2019, the Massachusetts DPU issued two orders opening public investigations into Columbia of Massachusetts. The Massachusetts DPU opened the first proceeding under its authority to determine compliance with federal and state pipeline safety laws and regulations, and will investigate Columbia of Massachusetts’ responsibility for and response to the Greater Lawrence Incident and its restoration efforts following the incident. The Massachusetts DPU opened the second proceeding under its authority to determine whether a gas distribution company has violated established standards regarding acceptable performance for emergency preparedness and restoration of service, and will investigate efforts by Columbia of Massachusetts to prepare for and restore service following the Greater Lawrence Incident. Separate penalties are applicable under each exercise of authority.

Massachusetts Legislative Matters. In December 2018, the President of Columbia of Massachusetts testified before a joint state legislative committee on telecommunications, utilities and energy with other industry officials about gas system safety in Massachusetts and regulatory oversight. Increased scrutiny related to these matters, including additional legislative oversight hearings and new legislative proposals, is expected to continue during the current two-year legislative session.

On December 31, 2018, the Massachusetts Governor signed into law legislation requiring a certified professional engineer to review and approve gas pipeline work that could pose a “material risk” to public safety, consistent with the NTSB’s recommendation. The Massachusetts DPU has issued interim guidelines and the existing moratorium has been lifted. The DPU issued an Order Opening Inquiry (Notice of Inquiry) on March 18, 2019, and Columbia of Massachusetts has submitted comments.

U.S. Department of Justice Investigation. The Company and Columbia of Massachusetts are subject to a criminal investigation related to the Greater Lawrence Incident that is being conducted under the supervision of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. The initial grand jury subpoenas were served on the Company and Columbia of Massachusetts on September 24, 2018. The Company and Columbia of Massachusetts are cooperating with the investigation. We are unable to estimate the

On September 30, 2019, the U.S. Pipeline Safety Act expired. There is no effect on PHMSA's authority. Action on past re-authorization bills has extended past the expiration date. Pipeline safety jurisdiction resides with the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee, and is divided between two committees in the U.S. House of Representatives (Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure). Legislative proposals are currently in various stages of committee development and the timing of further action is uncertain. Certain legislative proposals, if enacted into law, may increase costs for natural gas industry companies, including the Company and Columbia of Massachusetts.

Private Actions. Various lawsuits, including several purported class action lawsuits, have been filed by various affected residents or businesses in Massachusetts state courts against the Company and/or Columbia of Massachusetts in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. A special judge has been appointed to hear all pending and future cases and the class actions have been consolidated into one class action. On January 14, 2019, the special judge granted the parties’ joint motion to stay all cases until April 30, 2019 to allow mediation, and the parties subsequently agreed to extend the stay until July 25, 2019. The class action lawsuits allege varying causes of action, including those for strict liability for ultra-hazardous activity, negligence, private nuisance, public nuisance, premises liability, trespass, breach of warranty, breach of contract, failure to warn, unjust enrichment, consumer protection act claims, negligent, reckless and intentional infliction of emotional distress and gross negligence, and seek actual compensatory damages, plus treble damages, and punitive damages.

On July 26, 2019, the Company, Columbia of Massachusetts and NiSource Corporate Services Company, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a term sheet with the class action plaintiffs under which they agreed to settle the class action claims in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. Columbia of Massachusetts agreed to pay $143 million into a settlement fund to compensate the settlement class and the settlement class agreed to release Columbia of Massachusetts and affiliates from all claims arising out of or related to the Greater Lawrence Incident. The following claims are not covered under the proposed settlement because they are not part of the consolidated class action: (1) physical bodily injury and wrongful death; (2) insurance subrogation, whether equitable, contractual or otherwise; and (3) claims arising out of appliances that are subject to the Massachusetts DPU orders. Emotional distress and similar claims are covered under the proposed settlement unless they are secondary to a physical bodily injury. The settlement class is defined under the term sheet as all persons and businesses in the three municipalities of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts, subject to certain limited exceptions. The motion for preliminary approval and the settlement documents were filed on September 25, 2019. The preliminary approval court hearing was held on October 7, 2019 and the court issued an order granting preliminary approval of the settlement on October 11, 2019. The proposed settlement is subject to final court approval, and a hearing is scheduled for February 27, 2020.

Many residents and business owners have submitted individual damage claims to Columbia of Massachusetts. We also have received notice from three parties indicating an intent to assert wrongful death claims. In Massachusetts, punitive damages are available in a wrongful death action upon proof of gross negligence or willful or reckless conduct causing the death. In addition, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is seeking reimbursement from Columbia of Massachusetts for its expenses incurred in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. The outcomes and impacts of such private actions are uncertain at this time except as set forth below.

We are discussing potential settlements with plaintiffs asserting certain bodily injury and wrongful death claims. On April 25, 2019, we entered into a settlement agreement with certain of these plaintiffs involving bodily injury claims, subject to certain conditions, including court approval. On July 3, 2019, we entered into a settlement with one of the parties that indicated an intent to assert a wrongful death claim. On September 25, 2019, we entered into another settlement with a party that indicated an intent to assert a wrongful death claim.

Financial Impact. We estimate that total costs related to third-party claims resulting from the incident will range from $995 million to $1,020 million, depending on the final outcome of ongoing reviews and the number, nature, and value of third-party claims. These costs include, but are not limited to, personal injury and property damage claims, damage to infrastructure, and mutual aid payments to other utilities assisting with the restoration effort. These costs related to third-party claims do not include costs of certain third-party claims that we are not able to estimate, nor do they include non-claims related expenses resulting from the incident and the estimated capital cost of the pipeline replacement, which are set forth in " - D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration" and "- Greater Lawrence Incident Pipeline Replacement," respectively, below.

The process for estimating costs associated with third-party claims relating to the Greater Lawrence Incident requires management to exercise significant judgment based on a number of assumptions and subjective factors. As more information becomes known, including additional information regarding ongoing investigations, management’s estimates and assumptions regarding the financial impact of the Greater Lawrence Incident may change. The increase in estimated total costs related to third-party claims from those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 resulted primarily from receiving additional information regarding legal claims and the required scope of the restoration work inside the affected homes.

It is not possible at this time to reasonably estimate the total amount of any expenses associated with government investigations and fines, penalties or settlements with certain governmental authorities, including the Massachusetts DPU and other regulators, that we may incur in connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident. Therefore, the foregoing amounts do not include estimates of the total amount that we may incur for any such fines, penalties or settlements.

The aggregate amount of third-party liability insurance coverage available for losses arising from the Greater Lawrence Incident is $800 million. Total expenses related to the incident have exceeded the total amount of insurance coverage available under our policies. While a substantial amount of expenses related to the Greater Lawrence Incident has already been recovered from insurance carriers, a few insurers providing liability insurance to the Company or Columbia of Massachusetts continue to review our claim under the terms and conditions of the respective insurance policies. We are not able to estimate the amount of expenses that will not be covered by insurance, but these amounts are material to our financial statements. Certain types of damages, expenses or claimed costs, such as fines or penalties, may be excluded under the policies.

Due to the inherent uncertainty of litigation, there can be no assurance that the resolution of any particular claim or proceeding related to the Greater Lawrence Incident or otherwise would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or liquidity. If one or more of such matters were decided against us, the effects could be material to our results of operations in the period in which we would be required to record or adjust the related liability and could also be material to our cash flows in the periods that we would be required to pay such liability.

As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, we had recorded a liability of $107.5 million and $101.2 million, respectively, to cover environmental remediation at various sites. The current portion of this liability is included in "Legal and environmental" in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited). The noncurrent portion is included in "Other noncurrent liabilities". We recognize costs associated with environmental remediation obligations when the incurrence of such costs is probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. The original estimates for remediation activities may differ materially from the amount ultimately expended. The actual future expenditures depend on many factors, including currently enacted laws and regulations, the nature and extent of impact and the method of remediation. These expenditures are not currently estimable at some sites. We periodically adjust our liability as information is collected and estimates become more refined.

CPP and ACE Rules. On July 8, 2019, the EPA published the final ACE rule and repealed the CPP. The ACE rule establishes emission guidelines for states to use when developing plans to limit carbon dioxide at coal-fired electric generating units based on heat rate improvement measures. The coal-fired units at NIPSCO’s R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and Michigan City Generating Station are potentially affected sources, and compliance requirements for these units which NIPSCO plans to retire by 2023 and 2028, respectively, will be determined by future Indiana rulemaking. The ACE rule notes that states have “broad flexibility in setting standards of performance for designated facilities” and that a state may set a “business as usual” standard for sources that have a remaining useful life “so short that imposing any costs on the electric generating unit is unreasonable.” State plans are due by 2022, and the EPA will have six months to determine completeness and then one additional year to determine whether to approve the submitted plan. States have the discretion to determine the compliance period for each source. As a result, NIPSCO will continue to monitor this matter and cannot estimate its impact at this time.

CERCLA. Our subsidiaries are potentially responsible parties at waste disposal sites under the CERCLA (commonly known as Superfund) and similar state laws. Under CERCLA, each potentially responsible party can be held jointly, severally and strictly liable for the remediation costs as the EPA, or state, can allow the parties to pay for remedial action or perform remedial action themselves and request reimbursement from the potentially responsible parties. Our affiliates have retained CERCLA environmental liabilities, including remediation liabilities, associated with certain current and former operations. These liabilities are not material to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited).

We utilize a probabilistic model to estimate our future remediation costs related to MGP sites. The model was prepared with the assistance of a third party and incorporates our experience and general industry experience with remediating MGP sites. We complete an annual refresh of the model in the second quarter of each fiscal year. No material changes to the estimated future remediation costs were noted as a result of the refresh completed as of June 30, 2019. Our total estimated liability related to the facilities subject to remediation was $103.9 million and $97.5 million at September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. The liability represents our best estimate of the probable cost to remediate the facilities. We believe that it is reasonably possible that remediation costs could vary by as much as $20 million in addition to the costs noted above. Remediation costs are estimated based on the best available information, applicable remediation standards at the balance sheet date and experience with similar facilities.

CCRs. On April 17, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule for regulation of CCRs. The rule regulates CCRs under the RCRA Subtitle D, which determines them to be nonhazardous. The rule is implemented in phases and requires increased groundwater monitoring, reporting, recordkeeping and posting of related information to the Internet. The rule also establishes requirements related to CCR management and disposal. The rule allows NIPSCO to continue its byproduct beneficial use program.

To comply with the rule, NIPSCO incurred capital expenditures to modify its infrastructure and manage CCRs. The CCR rule also resulted in revisions to previously recorded legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain NIPSCO facilities. The actual asset retirement costs related to the CCR rule may vary substantially from the estimates used to record the increased asset retirement obligation due to the uncertainty about the compliance strategies that will be used and the preliminary nature of available data used to estimate costs. As allowed by the EPA, NIPSCO will continue to collect data over time to determine the specific compliance solutions and associated costs and, as a result, the actual costs may vary. NIPSCO has filed initial CCR closure plans for R.M. Schahfer Generating Station and Michigan City Generating Station with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.

ELG. On November 3, 2015, the EPA issued a final rule to amend the ELG and standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating category. The final rule became effective January 4, 2016. Based upon a preliminary study of the November 3, 2015 final rule, capital compliance costs were expected to be approximately $170 million. The EPA is expected to release a draft ELG reconsideration rule in 2019. However, NIPSCO does not anticipate material ELG compliance costs based on the preferred option announced as part of NIPSCO's 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (discussed below).

NIPSCO 2018 Integrated Resource Plan. Multiple factors, but primarily economic ones, including low natural gas prices, advancing cost effective renewable technology and increasing capital and operating costs associated with existing coal plants, have led NIPSCO to conclude in its October 2018 Integrated Resource Plan submission that NIPSCO’s current fleet of coal generation facilities will be retired earlier than previous Integrated Resource Plan’s had indicated.

The Integrated Resource Plan evaluated demand-side and supply-side resource alternatives to reliably and cost effectively meet NIPSCO customers' future energy requirements over the ensuing 20 years. The preferred option within the Integrated Resource Plan retires R.M. Schahfer Generating Station (Units 14, 15, 17, and 18) by 2023 and Michigan City Generating Station (Unit 12) by 2028. These units represent 2,080 MW of generating capacity, equal to 72% of NIPSCO’s remaining generating capacity (and 100% of NIPSCO's remaining coal-fired generating capacity) after the retirement of Bailly Units 7 and 8 on May 31, 2018.

In January 2019, NIPSCO executed two 20 year PPAs to purchase 100% of the output from renewable generation facilities at a fixed price per MW. The facilities supplying the energy will have a combined nameplate capacity of approximately 700 MW. NIPSCO's purchase requirement under the PPAs is dependent on satisfactory approval of the PPAs by the IURC. NIPSCO submitted the PPAs to the IURC for approval in February 2019 and the IURC approved the PPAs on June 5, 2019. Payments under the PPAs will not begin until the associated generation facilities are constructed by the owner / seller which is currently scheduled to be complete by the end of 2020 for one facility and by the end of 2021 for the other facility.

Also in January 2019, NIPSCO executed a BTA with a developer to construct a renewable generation facility with a nameplate capacity of approximately 100 MW. Once complete, ownership of the facility would be transferred to a partnership owned by NIPSCO, the developer and an unrelated tax equity partner. The aforementioned partnership structure will result in full NIPSCO ownership after the PTC are monetized from the project (approximately 10 years after the facility goes into service). NIPSCO's purchase requirement under the BTA is dependent on satisfactory approval of the BTA by the IURC, successful execution of an agreement with a tax equity partner and timely completion of construction. NIPSCO submitted the BTA to the IURC for approval in February 2019 and the IURC approved the BTA on August 7, 2019. Required FERC filings occurred after receiving the IURC order. Construction of the facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2020.

In October 2019, NIPSCO executed a BTA with a developer to construct an additional renewable generation facility with a nameplate capacity of approximately 300 MW. NIPSCO submitted the BTA to the IURC for approval on October 22, 2019. In this submission, NIPSCO requested the issuance of an order from the IURC by the end of February 2020. Construction of this facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.The ownership structure and preconditions for NIPSCO's purchase requirement are similar to that of the BTA executed in January of 2019 (discussed above).

Greater Lawrence Incident Restoration. In addition to the amounts estimated for third-party claims described above, we estimate we will incur other incident-related costs totaling between $430 million and $440 million, depending on the incurrence of future restoration work. Such costs include certain consulting costs, vendor costs, claims center costs, labor and related expenses incurred in connection with the incident and insurance-related loss surcharges. The amounts set forth above do not include the estimated capital cost of the pipeline replacement, which is set forth below in - D. Other Matters - Greater Lawrence Pipeline Replacement." The increase in estimated total incident-related expenses from those disclosed in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 resulted primarily from receiving additional information regarding the restoration work required to be completed and the extended period of time over which the restoration work would take place, higher than anticipated costs from vendors, expenses associated with government investigations, the incurrence of insurance-related loss surcharges and increased estimates for consultants and claim center costs.

As discussed in - B. Legal Proceedings, the aggregate amount of third-party liability insurance coverage available for losses arising from the Greater Lawrence Incident is $800 million. Expenses related to the incident have exceeded the total amount of insurance coverage available under our policies. While a substantial amount of expenses related to the Greater Lawrence Incident has already been recovered from insurance, a few insurers providing liability insurance to the Company or Columbia of Massachusetts continue to review our claim under the terms and conditions of the respective insurance policies. We are not able to estimate the amount of expenses that will not be covered by insurance, but these amounts are material to our financial statements. Certain types of damages, expenses or claimed costs, such as fines or penalties, may be excluded under the policies.



(in millions)	Insurance receivable
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	130
Insurance recoveries recorded in first quarter of 2019	100
Cash collected from insurance recoveries in the first quarter of 2019	(108		)
Balance, March 31, 2019	122
Insurance recoveries recorded in the second quarter of 2019	435
Cash collected from insurance recoveries in the second quarter of 2019	(297		)
Balance, June 30, 2019	$	260
Insurance recoveries recorded in third quarter of 2019	—
Cash collected from insurance recoveries in the third quarter of 2019	(260		)
Balance, September 30, 2019	$	—

Greater Lawrence Pipeline Replacement. In connection with the Greater Lawrence Incident, Columbia of Massachusetts, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Governor’s office, replaced the entire affected 45-mile cast iron and bare steel pipeline system that delivers gas to approximately 7,500 gas meters, the majority of which serve residences and approximately 700 of which serve businesses impacted in the Greater Lawrence Incident. This system was replaced with plastic distribution mains and service lines, as well as enhanced safety features such as pressure regulation and excess flow valves at each premise. At the request of the Massachusetts DPU, which was instructed by the Massachusetts Governor through his executive authority under a state of emergency, Columbia of Massachusetts hired an outside contractor to serve as the Chief Recovery Officer for the Greater Lawrence Incident, responsible for command, control and communications. Columbia of Massachusetts restored gas service to nearly all homes and workplaces in December 2018. With the restoration and recovery efforts substantially complete and the service of the Chief Recovery Officer completed, the next phase of the effort, Phase II, was managed by Columbia of Massachusetts under the

Since the Greater Lawrence Incident and through September 30, 2019, we have invested approximately $255 million of capital spend for the pipeline replacement. We estimate this replacement work will ultimately cost between $255 million and $260 million. We maintain property insurance for gas pipelines and other applicable property in the approximate amount of $300 million. Columbia of Massachusetts has filed a proof of loss with its property insurer for the full cost of the pipeline replacement. The recovery of any capital investment not reimbursed through insurance will be addressed in a future regulatory proceeding. The outcome of such a proceeding is uncertain. In accordance with ASC 980-360, if it becomes probable that a portion of the pipeline replacement cost will not be recoverable through customer rates and an amount can be reasonably estimated, we will reduce our regulated plant balance for the amount of the probable disallowance and record an associated charge to earnings. This could result in a material adverse effect to our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Additionally, if a rate order is received allowing recovery of the investment with no or reduced return on investment, a loss on disallowance may be required.

In addition, we have committed to a capital investment program to install over-pressurization protection devices on all of our low-pressure systems as described above in “-B. Legal Proceedings.” These devices operate like circuit-breakers, so that if operating pressure is too high or too low, regardless of the cause, they are designed to immediately shut down the supply of gas to the system. The program also includes installing remote monitoring devices on all low-pressure systems, enabling gas control centers to continuously monitor pressure at regulator stations. In addition, we have conducted a field survey of all regulator stations and initiated an engineering review of those regulator stations; we are verifying and enhancing our maps and records of low-pressure regulator stations; and we initiated a process so that our personnel will be present whenever excavation work is being done in close proximity to a regulator station.