Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Blasts NIPSCO Over Prolonged Power Outages
- Indiana Governor Mike Braun publicly criticized Northern Indiana Public Service Company, known as NIPSCO, for failing residents nearly two weeks after a powerful derecho knocked out power across...
- Governor Braun expressed severe frustration with the utility provider's timeline for full restoration.
- NIPSCO categorized the storm events as historic, but state officials maintained there is no excuse for the prolonged delays nearing the two-week mark.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun publicly criticized Northern Indiana Public Service Company, known as NIPSCO, for failing residents nearly two weeks after a powerful derecho knocked out power across the northwestern part of the state.
The August 11 derecho brought winds of up to 110 miles per hour, destroying infrastructure and initially cutting power to more than 60 percent of NIPSCO’s customers. While the utility company has restored service to over 350,000 customers, more than 21,000 accounts remained without electricity as of Sunday.
Governor Braun Mobilizes State Resources
Governor Braun expressed severe frustration with the utility provider’s timeline for full restoration. In a social media statement, the governor stated that NIPSCO possesses sufficient resources to finish the job.
While NIPSCO holds more than enough capabilities to finish the work across northwest Indiana, they keep letting down the people of the state. NIPSCO is a monopoly with a responsibility to ratepayers. Because local citizens must depend on them for their well-being and security, the company needs to restore electricity immediately.
To accelerate recovery efforts, Governor Braun deployed the Indiana National Guard alongside teams from the Indiana State Police, the Department of Natural Resources, and the Department of Correction. These state agencies were sent to clear the way for utility repair crews.
Estimated Timelines and Ongoing Outages
NIPSCO categorized the storm events as historic, but state officials maintained there is no excuse for the prolonged delays nearing the two-week mark. Outages have heavily concentrated in specific communities, creating prolonged safety and comfort challenges for residents.
According to updates from NIPSCO, power restoration schedules vary significantly by municipality:
- Munster: Power is expected to be restored by Monday night.
- Gary and Portage: Estimated restoration timelines extend until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday.
Utility officials have issued warnings advising residents to maintain a safe distance from crews working in the field and to treat all downed power lines as active and dangerous.