NIPSCO names gas operations leader

Merrillville-based Northern Indiana Public Service Company on Friday announced Orville Cocking as senior vice president of gas operations. Cocking most recently served as VP of operations for Orange & Rockland Utilities in New York.

NIPSCO said in his previous role, Cocking led a team of 650 employees serving about 450,000 electric and gas customers in the greater New York area.

He also held leadership roles with Consolidated Edison Company of New York.

“With nearly 20 years of industry experience, Orville brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the NIPSCO gas operations team,” NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Hooper said in a news release. “Orville is highly respected as an energy leader and will be instrumental in shaping the future of NIPSCO in gas distribution operations, construction, regulatory policy and compliance.”

Cocking will begin his new role at NIPSCO on May 8.

NIPSCO is a subsidiary of Merrillville-based NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI). The company has about 850,000 natural gas customers and 483,000 electric customers across 32 counties.