Braun demands investigation into NIPSCO after prolonged northwest Indiana outages

Gov. Mike Braun on Monday directed Indiana’s utility consumer advocate to seek a regulatory investigation into Northern Indiana Public Service Co. after widespread outages left thousands of northwest Indiana homes and businesses without power for nearly two weeks.

The requested investigation would examine NIPSCO’s vegetation management and right-of-way maintenance, along with whether money approved by state regulators for infrastructure and reliability improvements was spent as promised.

Braun directed the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a complaint and petition the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, or IURC, to open the review.

His action follows a proposed class action lawsuit filed against NIPSCO alleging inadequate tree trimming contributed to repeated and prolonged outages.

The utility reported about 10,000 customers without power as of midday Monday, including about 3,900 whose outages were tied to the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent severe weather.

The utility expected restoration work to be substantially complete in Munster and Lake Station by Monday night and in Gary and Portage by Tuesday night, although it cautioned that some individual outages could last longer. NIPSCO said it had recorded more than 350,000 outages since the storm struck.

Braun said crews from state agencies and utilities had done an “extraordinary job” under difficult conditions but accused NIPSCO management of failing to provide adequate solutions.

“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 Monday statement. “Hoosiers deserve accountability.”

Gary Common Council member Darren Washington told the Indiana Capital Chronicle that the outages require scrutiny beyond the immediate response.

“Northwest Indiana needs more than restored electricity,” Washington said. “It needs a serious public conversation about whether our infrastructure is adequate for the future and whether our elected and regulatory leaders are prepared to demand the accountability residents deserve.”

Braun has sought an expedited federal major disaster declaration for 54 counties, citing winds of up to 99 mph near Gary and a near-total loss of power across Lake County.

The lawsuit filed in Porter County Superior Court, names Valparaiso resident Jack Tipold and 16 other northwest Indiana residents as plaintiffs. They allege NIPSCO failed to adequately manage trees and other vegetation near its power lines, contributing to repeated outages since August 2024.

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The case has not been certified as a class action. As of Monday morning, no hearings had been scheduled and NIPSCO had not filed a response in court.

The complaint says the Aug. 11 outage affected nearly 60% of NIPSCO’s electric customers. It accuses the utility of ignoring public requests to address hazardous conditions, inadequately inspecting lines and poles, failing to identify hazard trees and not maintaining a sufficient workforce for vegetation management.

Tipold alleges he was undergoing oral surgery when the power failed, forcing the procedure to end before he had adequate pain control. The complaint says he also lost perishable household goods. Other plaintiffs allege economic losses and physical or emotional harm.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to certify a class of Indiana residents who suffered personal injury or financial harm because of what they describe as negligent vegetation management. They seek compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined.

Braun’s requested regulatory inquiry would cover some of the same issues raised by the lawsuit, but it would proceed separately before state utility regulators.

In addition to vegetation management and right-of-way maintenance, the governor wants a review of whether funds authorized through IURC-approved tracking mechanisms were used for their intended purposes.

The OUCC represents consumers in proceedings before the IURC. The commission regulates the rates, charges and service of Indiana’s investor-owned utilities.

NIPSCO has disputed the allegations.

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“We strongly disagree with the characterization of NIPSCO’s vegetation management practices,” utility officials said in a statement. “We will vigorously defend the company through the legal process. NIPSCO’s electric operations, including its active vegetation management program, are overseen by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. NIPSCO’s vegetation management spend has more than doubled since 2016, demonstrating our commitment and focus on maintaining a safe and reliable electric system.”

The company said its immediate priority was restoring service safely and quickly after severe weather caused what it called unprecedented damage to its electric system.

The governor on Sunday said he mobilized the Indiana National Guard and sent personnel from several state agencies to help clear debris for utility crews.

“There is no excuse for these delays,” Braun said in a statement on X.

This story has been updated following Gov. Mike Braun’s requested regulatory investigation into NIPSCO.