NiSource (NI) 10-Q 2011 Q3 Quarterly report

Exhibit 32.1

Certification Pursuant to

Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly Report of NiSource Inc. (the “Company”) on Form 10-Q for the quarter ending September 30, 2011 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Robert C. Skaggs, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and result of operations of the Company.

/s/ Robert C. Skaggs, Jr.

Robert C. Skaggs, Jr.

Chief Executive Officer

Date: October 28, 2011