ENERGY EFFICIENCY · REPLACEMENT SIDING · NORTHWEST INDIANA Tired of Your NIPSCO Bill? Your Siding May Be Why. Lake County and Porter County homeowners pay the highest electric bills in Indiana — and lake-effect winds may be stealing your insulation’s ability to fight back. Here’s what you can actually do about it. By Kusiak Construction, Inc. · Hammond, IN · Updated March 2026
#1 Highest Electric Bills in Indiana (IURC Survey)
+91% NIPSCO Rate Increase Over 10 Years (Highest of Any Indiana Utility)
~$50/mo Average Monthly Bill Increase for NWI Customers in 2025
63% Potential Insulation R-Value Lost to Air Infiltration in Walls
Tired of Your NIPSCO Bill? Your Siding May Be Why!
The NIPSCO Problem Is Real – and It’s Getting Worse
If you live in Hammond, Munster, Crown Point, Schererville, Merrillville, or anywhere else in Lake County or Porter County, you already know: your electric bill has been climbing for years. But the numbers are now impossible to ignore. According to Indiana’s own utility regulator, NIPSCO’s average residential bill ranks highest among all utilities under the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s jurisdiction.
Over the last decade, NIPSCO residential electricity costs have risen over 91% — the highest increase of any utility company in the state. In 2025 alone, Northwest Indiana customers absorbed a nearly $50-per-month increase — the largest single-year jump in two decades. Customers from East Chicago to Valparaiso are posting shock on social media.
Some report bills that have doubled or tripled. One East Chicago resident reported a single bill over $500. And because NIPSCO operates as a monopoly in most of its service area, residents have no alternative provider to turn to. You can’t vote NIPSCO out.
You can’t shop for a better rate. But there is one powerful thing you CAN control: how much energy your home wastes in the first place.
“What do I choose? Do I choose to pay my mortgage or do I choose to pay NIPSCO to keep the lights on?” — Ashley Alvarez, NIPSCO customer, East Chicago, IN (WGN-TV, January 2026)
▶ START HERE — Kusiak Replacement Siding: Why It Matters in Northwest Indiana
Watch this short video to understand the value of replacement siding for Lake County and Porter County homeowners.
Your Old Siding Is Costing You Every Single Month
Most homeowners assume their insulation is doing its job. The truth is, it often isn’t — and your siding and wall system are a primary reason why. Northwest Indiana’s lake-effect winds are relentless. Cold air driven off Lake Michigan doesn’t just chill you on the way to your car — it infiltrates your home through every tiny crack and seam in the exterior wall system. When that happens, your insulation is fighting a war it can’t win. ⚠ BUILDING SCIENCE FACT: The average 2,500 sq ft home has more than half a mile of cracks and crevices in its wall cavities. When wind-driven air moves through those gaps, tests show it can rob your walls of up to 63% of their installed insulation value — forcing your furnace and A/C to run longer, harder, and at your expense. Old or aging siding makes this dramatically worse. Cracked, warped, or improperly sealed siding creates direct pathways for cold air in winter and hot, humid air in summer. Your HVAC system compensates — and NIPSCO sends you the bill. The good news: replacing your siding is one of the few home improvements that directly addresses energy loss from the outside in. And when done right — with the right materials and the right upgrade options — it can pay for itself month after month on your utility bill.
The DuPont™ Tyvek® Upgrade: A One-Time Opportunity
Here is something most homeowners don’t know — and most siding companies won’t tell you. When the siding comes off your home during a replacement project, you have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to wrap your entire home in DuPont™ Tyvek® House Wrap before the new siding goes on. Once your new siding is installed, that window closes. Forever.
Kusiak Construction offers DuPont™ Tyvek® House Wrap as an upgrade option on every siding replacement project. Here’s why so many Lake County and Porter County homeowners are choosing it — especially now, with NIPSCO bills hitting record highs.
✅ STOPS WIND-DRIVEN AIR INFILTRATION Tyvek creates a continuous air barrier around your home. Wind can no longer force its way into your wall cavities and rob your insulation of its effectiveness.
✅ YOUR HOME CAN BREATHE Unlike simple plastic sheeting, Tyvek’s unique non-woven structure blocks bulk water and air while allowing moisture vapor to escape — preventing mold, protecting your wall structure, and supporting healthier indoor air quality.
✅ PRESERVES YOUR INSULATION’S FULL POTENTIAL By eliminating the air movement that degrades wall insulation, Tyvek helps your existing insulation perform the way it was engineered to — reducing HVAC runtime and your monthly bill.
✅ PROTECTS AGAINST MOISTURE DAMAGE Wet insulation retains less than 40% of its effectiveness. Tyvek resists bulk water penetration, keeping your wall insulation dry and fully functional year-round.
✅ ONE-TIME UPGRADE — NEVER AVAILABLE AGAIN UNTIL SIDING IS REPLACED This is not something you can add later without another full siding project. If you’re replacing siding, now is the moment. Learn more about DuPont™ Tyvek® HomeWrap® at dupont.com/products/tyvek-homewrap
▶ LEARN MORE — Kusiak Siding Replacement: What the Process Looks Like A closer look at how Kusiak approaches a professional siding replacement in Northwest Indiana.
“CertainTeed Siding: Built for Northwest Indiana Weather”
Not all siding is the same. And in Lake County and Porter County, where temperatures swing from brutal lake-effect winters to hot, humid summers, the siding you choose needs to be engineered for this climate.
Kusiak Construction is a Certified CertainTeed Contractor — one of a small number of contractors in Northwest Indiana to hold this designation. That matters for several important reasons.
CertainTeed’s vinyl siding lineup — including the Monogram®, MainStreet®, and Cedar Impressions® collections — offers the widest spectrum of fade-resistant colors in the industry, backed by a Lifetime Limited Warranty. As a CertainTeed ShingleMaster and credentialed contractor, Kusiak can unlock warranty coverage that independent installers simply cannot offer.
What does that mean for you? It means the investment you make in your home’s new exterior is protected — not just for a few years, but for the life of the siding. And when it’s installed over DuPont Tyvek, it’s the most complete, energy-efficient exterior wall system available to Northwest Indiana homeowners.
Explore the full CertainTeed siding lineup at certainteed.com, or visit Kusiak’s CertainTeed page to see why it’s the brand built for this region:
▶ READY TO DECIDE? — Why Northwest Indiana Homeowners Choose Kusiak
Everything you need to know before scheduling your free siding estimate.
Fight Your NIPSCO Bill From the Outside In
Get a free, no-pressure siding estimate from Northwest Indiana’s most trusted home improvement contractor. Ask about the DuPont™ Tyvek® upgrade — available only during a siding replacement project.
What Does Replacement Siding Cost in Northwest Indiana?
This is the question everyone wants answered before they call. Here’s an honest look at what you can expect. For a typical Northwest Indiana home, vinyl siding replacement on a 1,500 sq ft house generally ranges from $4,658 to $5,795, with costs around $3.50 per square foot for standard vinyl, rising to $7.00 per square foot for premium products.
The DuPont Tyvek house wrap upgrade adds to that cost, but represents a long-term investment that pays dividends on every single NIPSCO bill that follows. The more important question isn’t the upfront cost — it’s whether the long-term energy savings and home value improvement make it worthwhile. For Lake County and Porter County homeowners staring down NIPSCO bills that have risen over 91% in a decade, the answer increasingly speaks for itself.
Kusiak’s free estimate process is designed to give you an accurate, no-surprise number — factoring in your home’s actual measurements, condition, structural needs, and your design preferences.
There are no hidden costs added after the contract is signed.
New Siding. Tyvek Wrap. Lower Bills.
Kusiak Construction serves Lake County and Porter County with free, transparent estimates. You can’t control NIPSCO’s rates. You can control how much your home wastes.
📞 Call Us: 219.923.3007 📍 1235 Summer St., Hammond, IN 46320
Serving: Hammond · Munster · Highland · Griffith · Crown Point · Schererville · St. John · Dyer · Merrillville · Whiting · Gary
Siding and Your NIPSCO Bill | Frequently Asked Questions
Can old siding cause high NIPSCO bills in Northwest Indiana?
Yes. Deteriorating or improperly installed siding is a common hidden cause of high NIPSCO gas and electric bills for NWI homeowners. When the house wrap beneath old siding fails, air infiltrates the wall cavity, dramatically increasing the load on your heating and cooling system. Homes with original 1950s to 1970s siding, common throughout Lake County, are particularly vulnerable. Replacing the siding and house wrap can measurably reduce energy consumption and lower NIPSCO bills year-round.
What is house wrap and why does it affect my energy bills?
House wrap is a weather-resistant barrier installed between your home’s structural sheathing and the exterior siding. It blocks air and moisture infiltration while allowing vapor to escape. When house wrap deteriorates, tears, or was never installed, common in older NWI homes, outside air penetrates your walls and significantly increases heating and cooling costs. A siding replacement project is the ideal time to inspect and replace failed house wrap, restoring your home’s thermal envelope.
What is insulated vinyl siding and does it help with NIPSCO bills?
Insulated vinyl siding has a layer of rigid foam backing bonded to the vinyl panels, adding R-value to your exterior walls. In Northwest Indiana’s climate, where NIPSCO heating costs can be significant, insulated vinyl siding reduces thermal bridging through wall studs and lowers overall wall heat loss. The result is a more comfortable home and potentially lower gas and electric bills. Call Kusiak Construction at 219.923.3007 to learn more about insulated siding options.
How much can new siding reduce my energy bills in Northwest Indiana?
Energy savings from new siding vary depending on your current siding condition, insulation levels, and home size. Insulated vinyl siding adds approximately R-3 to R-4 to exterior walls. For maximum energy savings, Kusiak Construction recommends combining new insulated siding with an attic insulation evaluation, as attic heat loss is often the largest single energy drain in NWI homes. Contact us at 219.923.3007 for a free assessment.
Does new siding qualify for energy efficiency tax credits?
Standard vinyl siding does not qualify for federal energy efficiency tax credits. However, insulation improvements made during a siding project may qualify for the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, which allows up to 30% back, capped at $1,200 per year for insulation materials. Always consult a tax professional to confirm eligibility for your specific project and situation.
We started as a roofing company then evolved into “Your Exterior Experts” and now we are full steam ahead as Kusiak Construction, Inc. “Your Complete Home Improvement Experts”
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