Newsweek magazine has ranked NiSource Inc., of Merrillville, fourth among U.S. utilities in its Green Rankings of the nation's largest corporations.

Newsweek ranked the companies using a Green Score that gave the most weight to each company's actual environmental policies as well as its reputation.

"NiSource's strong ranking on the Newsweek Green List is consistent with our ongoing commitment to sustainability, contemporary governance practices and a solid foundation of core business values," NiSource CEO Robert Skaggs Jr. said. "By this measure and others, we are making tangible progress on our path to becoming North America's premier regulated energy company."

NiSource ranked 211 for its environmental performance in the overall rankings of the nation's 500 largest companies. Exelon Corp., owner of ComEd in Illinois, ranked 11 among utilities and 329 overall.

NiSource has 3.7 million energy customers mainly in the Midwest and Eastern United States. Its NIPSCO subsidiary has 712,000 natural gas and 457,000 electric customers in northern Indiana.

Newsweek noted that NiSource, which is mainly a natural gas provider, performed well when stacked up against utility companies that are tied more closely to coal, although NIPSCO relies heavily on the carbon-heavy fuel.

Computer-maker Hewlett-Packard grabbed the first spot overall on the list of 500 corporations, with computer companies making up four of the top five ranked companies.

How green is NiSource?

What Newsweek said about NiSource's environmental efforts: "To date, has avoided compliance problems and controversy. Mostly a natural gas provider (transport, distribution, storage), it performs well relative to utility companies tied more closely to coal and oil (although its small electricity-generating division relies heavily on coal.) Has strong environmental practices and accredited management systems in place."