Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has called for an investigation into utility provider NIPSCO after a severe August 11 storm knocked out power to as many as 374,500 customers in Lake County and the surrounding area, the largest outage in the company’s history, with some residents still without electricity nearly two weeks later.
What Caused the Outage
A derecho packing wind gusts up to 100 mph tore through northwest Indiana on August 11, knocking out power to roughly 95% of Lake County at the height of the storm. The damage came as some residents were still waiting on disaster relief from tornadoes that hit the region in June.
Why Restoration Has Taken So Long
NIPSCO has said the storm caused unusually complex damage requiring extensive engineering work to repair, but residents and local officials have criticized the pace and organization of the recovery effort, with schools closed, traffic lights dark, and boil-water advisories in effect in some areas for much of the outage.
A Dividend Payout Amid the Outage
NiSource, NIPSCO’s parent company, announced during the outage that it would pay out roughly $140 million in dividends to shareholders, a disclosure that has fueled criticism from residents and drawn attention to the gap between the utility’s financial position and the pace of repairs in affected neighborhoods.
What Happens Next
Braun has directed state regulators to investigate NIPSCO’s preparation for and response to the storm. Indiana’s legislature is also weighing House Bill 1002, aimed at electric affordability, as protests continue over NIPSCO’s rates and the length of the restoration effort.
