NiSource’s net income rose nearly 1% in the first quarter, to $268.4 million from $266.2 million a year earlier, the company announced Thursday.

The Merrillville, Ind.-based energy provider said that quarterly revenue fell 7%, to $2.15 billion from $2.32 billion, in the same quarter of last year.

Most of the decline occurred in its electric utility business, where revenue slumped 12% to $394.7 million. The company’s gas distribution business revenues dropped 11% to $1.08 billion, but gas transport and storage revenue rose nearly 9% to $628 million, thanks to growth in shale gas projects.

NiSource, the parent of Northern Indiana Public Service Co., said it is on track for a planned July 1 separation of its Columbia Pipeline Group into a publicly traded company. It will trade on the New York Stock Exchange as CPGX.

Entergy Q1 Profits Bruised by Wholesale Unit

Strong electricity demand by Entergy’s industrial customers in the first quarter was offset by a decline in its wholesale commodities unit, resulting in a 26% decrease in quarterly profit, the company announced Tuesday.

The New Orleans-based generator earned net income of $298.1 million ($1.65/share) in the first quarter versus $401.2 million ($2.24/share) for the same period last year. Quarterly operating revenue fell 9% to $2.92 billion.

Entergy cited the “Industrial Renaissance” in the Gulf region for the seventh-straight quarter of industrial sales growth. That boosted consolidated net income of the utility segment by 11% to $223.4 million. Entergy cited industrial growth in persuading MISO to approve a $187 million out-of-cycle project to beef up its transmission system near Lake Charles, La. (See Entergy Out-of-Cycle Requests Win MISO Board OK.)

Entergy’s wholesale commodities segment saw a steep decline in the first quarter, with net income falling to $123 million compared to $242 million in 2014 — a decrease of nearly 50%. The company cited several factors, including the shutdown of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant at the end of 2014 and lower wholesale power prices.

CEO Leo Denault said Entergy is proceeding with $8 billion in capital spending over the next three years, including additional peaking units in the Lake Charles area.

He also said new ratemaking legislation in states such as Arkansas should provide a more favorable regulatory climate for recovering costs.

Denault also said that during Entergy’s first year as a member of MISO, the company’s customers have benefited from $240 million in energy-related savings, “exceeding expectations.”

Weather, Higher Expenses Nibble at Alliant Energy Earnings

Alliant Energy’s first-quarter profit dropped nearly 11% as a warmer winter brought lower electricity and gas sales.

The Madison-based energy company said it earned a profit of $99.2 million ($0.87/share) in the quarter, including a 4-cent weather benefit.

But that was significantly lower than the 12-cent benefit during the colder first quarter of 2014, when the company earned $110.6 million ($0.97/share), Alliant CEO Patricia Kampling said.

Higher electric transmission service expenses at Wisconsin Power and Light and retail electric customer billing credits at Interstate Power and Light also crimped results.

Revenues fell 6% to $897.4 million.

— Chris O’Malley