Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has called for an investigation into NIPSCO’s storm response as thousands remained without power in northwest Indiana nearly two weeks after destructive Aug. 11 storms.
The extreme weather, which the National Weather Service preliminarily identified as a derecho, featured winds ranging from 70 mph to over 100 mph alongside tornadoes that crossed into Lake County from Illinois. At the peak of the weather event, utility figures showed approximately 374,500 customer outages.
Nearly two weeks later, thousands of residents across northwest Indiana still lacked electricity. Gary and Portage absorbed the heaviest ongoing disruptions, forcing families and businesses to endure prolonged hardships during sweltering late-August conditions.
Mike Braun Directs State Agencies to Probe NIPSCO Response
Frustrated by lingering blackouts, Governor Braun directed the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a formal complaint and petition the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to launch an investigation into the company’s response. The governor criticized the utility’s performance.
マイク・ブラウン・インディアナ州知事は、NIPSCOはフージャース（インディアナ州民）が毎月料金を支払っている独占的な公益企業であり、その潤沢な資源を活用してシステムの維持管理を行い、悪天候に備え、災害発生時にはできる限り迅速にサービスを復旧させることを期待されていると述べた。Gov. Mike Braun, via ABC7 Chicago
Braun added that the state needed to determine whether the utility utilized its funds properly for system maintenance and severe weather preparedness. In response to the state-level pressure, NIPSCO issued a statement noting that it was aware of the directive and would cooperate fully with regulatory officials.
To assist with clearing obstructions, Braun declared a statewide emergency on Aug. 13 and mobilized the Indiana National Guard alongside other state agencies to clear the way for utility repair crews.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton Demands Accountability and Relief
Local leaders expressed deep frustration over the prolonged restoration timeline. Gary Mayor Eddie Melton reported that roughly 9,000 customers in his city remained without power as of Aug. 23, marking the twelfth day of the crisis.
Melton argued that NIPSCO should have maintained boots on the ground from the very first day and pushed for immediate protective measures for affected ratepayers. He advocated for a moratorium on utility disconnections lasting 60 to 90 days, alongside the complete waiver of late fees across northwest Indiana.
City officials also confirmed that Mayor Melton and Sen. Jim Banks held a phone call with President Donald Trump to request federal disaster assistance for the region.
Utility Estimates Spark Anxiety Among Affected Residents
As restoration work continued, NIPSCO reported that roughly 16,500 customer accounts remained without electricity by late August. The company brought in additional contractor crews and mutual assistance teams from across the country, emphasizing that no outage is being overlooked.
While the utility projected broader power restoration for Munster, Gary, and Portage by late August, residents faced stark realities on the ground. Gary resident Denise Bairns stated that utility representatives informed her that electricity might not return to her home until Sept. 12.
Residents described severe difficulties maintaining daily routines. Dale Pugh noted that houses became dangerously hot at night, forcing families to leave windows and doors open. Parent Vera Walker described the past two weeks as hectic, noting a total lack of operating resources, gas stations, and grocery stores.
Community Relief Efforts and Keith Lee Event Draw Thousands
Amid ongoing infrastructure challenges, local organizations and volunteers stepped in to support displaced families. Thousands of residents turned out for a community relief event dubbed the After the Storm Party
held to distribute food, relief kits, and back-to-school supplies.
The gathering brought together the City of Gary, the Salvation Army, and social media personality and food critic Keith Lee, who partnered with local groups to assist storm victims.