Kewanna Diner struggles as NIPSCO customers see soaring winter gas bills

KEWANNA Ind. -- Higher gas bills are expected during the winter months, but many NIPSCO customers say recent spikes have gone far beyond what they can manage — putting household budgets and small-town businesses under strain.

For Mark Davis, owner of the Kewanna Diner, the rising costs threaten more than just his bottom line. They put his lifelong dream at risk.

After years of working in kitchens, Davis opened the diner for the chance to be his own boss, but the excitement of ownership has been replaced by anxiety as gas bills climb.

Davis said his bill jumped from about $600 in September to more than $1,000 in December.

“My usage for December was at 1,024,” he said.

According to Davis, the diner’s gas bill — provided by NIPSCO — has nearly quadrupled from what he was quoted under a budget plan when the business opened.

“The bill going forward is going to be about $1,200 a month,” Davis said. “We had an ice maker that was running and I opted to unplug it and just buy bagged ice.”

Davis is not alone. NIPSCO customers across the region have taken to social media to share their frustration, posting bills they say have doubled compared with last winter.

In a statement to ABC57, NIPSCO attributed the increases to market gas prices, which they said are outside of their control.

Still, customers say they want clearer answers.

“We just want an explanation,” Davis said. “It doesn’t seem to make any sense. I’ve heard rumors that we’re getting the runt end of the stick for data centers coming in.”

As residents cut back on spending to afford heating their homes, Davis said fewer people are eating out, creating a ripple effect for small businesses like his.

“We just got to get more people in the door,” Davis said. “I’ve got a $5,000 — almost $6,000 — deficit with NIPSCO right now that we’re going to try and figure out how to make up through events and catering and festivals however we can.”

With colder temperatures expected ahead, many NIPSCO customers fear the worst is still to come. For now, the Kewanna Diner continues serving warm meals and hoping the community can keep showing up.