(Area Codes 219 & 574, IN) - Making local phone calls will get a little more complicated soon.  The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission says callers in northern Indiana will have to include their area code when dialing, even for local calls.  This will effect both the 219 and 574 areas.

Two downstate area codes have already been following the 10-digit standard for a few years. The extra step is to accommodate a growing number of overlapping phone numbers.

The requirement will not go into effect until October.  Until then, local calls using seven digits will still go through.  But authorities urge people to start getting into the habit of using area codes and adding them to preset numbers on their phones.

The change will not affect call rates.  911 and other 3-digit information numbers will also stay the same.