MERRILLVILLE – NiSource Inc. has announced second quarter earnings were up 73 percent. As a result, the parent company for NIPSCO, reported a profit of $69.4 million, up from $40.2 million one year ago.

Earnings per share were 25 cents in the quarter, up from 14 cents in the same quarter one year ago.

NiSource also announced that work is expected to begin soon on upgrades to its Michigan City Generating Station. New smokestack scrubbers will be installed, similar to the $500 million project now underway at its Schahfer Generating Station in Wheatfield.