MERRILLVILLE – NIPSCO has agreed to pay a $1 million fine to settle a federal complaint that it discriminated against some 1,500 female or black job applicants.

The Merrillville based company reached the deal with federal officials after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found the utility company discriminated against qualified women or black applicants for meter reading and other service representative positions.

Other details of the settlement were not released.