Delinquent utility customers, take heart: You could be in the town of Merrillville's shoes. Its light bill is about $350,000.

Clerk-Treasurer Eugene Guernsey says the bedroom community about 30 miles southeast of Chicago town got into a bind with late tax bills, a frozen tax levy and higher operating costs.

Guernsey says the town plans to pay down part of money owned to Northern Indiana Public Service Co. with $25,000 it received for entrance fees at an off-track betting parlor.

The fees generate just a few thousand dollars a month, so it could take some time to completely pay down the debt.

NIPSCO spokesman Nick Meyer says the utility is working with the town to get the bill paid.