RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is calling for an investigation into the utility provider for Northwest Indiana as thousands remain without power in the area.
Braun directed the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a complaint against NIPSCO with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which regulates the state's utility companies.
Power has remained out for thousands of Northwest Indiana residents since the Aug. 11 storms that wrecked havoc on the state. The combination of 99-mph winds and flooding caused trees to topple over onto power lines, homes and onto roads.
Braun called for a thorough review of NIPSCO's preparedness for storm damage, including whether the utility had adequately protected its infrastructure and had been keeping vegetation cleared near its power lines.
NIPSCO issued a statement Monday saying it was aware of Braun's directive and "will cooperate fully if the Commission were to open an investigation."
The statement continued: "Throughout this event, our focus has remained on safely restoring service, supporting impacted communities and helping customers recover. As restoration efforts continue, our crews, contractors and partners remain committed to restoring power safely and as quickly as possible for every customer affected by this historic storm."
The utility has roughly 500,000 customers in northern Indiana and, according to the utility, about 374,500 of them lost power due to the storm. As of Monday morning, most of the customers who lost power during the storm had their lights back on. But about 10,000 customers still didn't have power, the vast majority of whom live in Gary. The city suffered the largest power outage of the region. NIPSCO estimates power will be back on for remaining customers as of Tuesday evening.
“NIPSCO is a monopoly utility that Hoosiers pay every month with the expectation that it will use its considerable resources to maintain its system, prepare for severe weather and restore service as quickly as possible when disaster strikes. NIPSCO has failed to keep its end of the bargain," Braun said in a statement.
On Sunday, Braun said in social media post that NIPSCO has “no excuse for these delays” after he sent teams from the Indiana National Guard, Indiana State Police and state natural resources and corrections departments to “literally clear the way for NIPSCO utility crews.”
A class-action lawsuit representing several Northwest Indiana residents also claimed the utility did not protect its power lines from tree damage ahead of the storms.
The complaint, filed last Monday in Porter County, Indiana, claims NIPSCO failed to remove “hazardous trees and other vegetation” near power lines, neglected to conduct regular pole and line inspections, and ignored residents’ requests for vegetation management.
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