The U.S. Department of Energy has extended an order by Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) to maintain operations at its R.M. Schahfer generating station in Wheatfield. The previous order went into effect on Dec. 23 and ended March 23, with Secretary of Energy Chris Wright extending the extension until March 24 and June 21. NIPSCO, CenterPoint Energy and Midcontinent Independent System Operator were also told to keep the F.B. Culley generating station operable in Newburgh. Critics argue that the order is part of a manufactured reliability crisis to power data center in the Midwest. The total cost to comply with the federal order is still being assessed.