NIPSCO gives update on power restoration timeline amid ‘largest outage event’ in company’s history

NORTHWEST INDIANA (WNDU) — More than 230,000 NIPSCO customers remained without power as of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, after a derecho brought heavy rain, lightning, and destructive winds to northern Indiana on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

NIPSCO said it expects to restore power to approximately 90% of impacted customers by Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 11:59 p.m. and complete restoration for all customers by Friday, Aug. 21, at 11:59 p.m.

The company described the Aug. 11 storm as the largest outage event ever recorded in its history.

“What our crews have encountered since Tuesday’s storms is unlike anything NIPSCO has experienced in modern history,” NIPSCO said in a statement on its website. “The severe weather that moved through northern Indiana on Aug. 11 produced wind gusts approaching 100 mph and caused widespread damage across nearly our entire electric service territory. At the peak of the event, approximately 60% of NIPSCO’s electric customers were without power, making this the largest outage event ever recorded in NIPSCO’s history.”

NIPSCO said restoration efforts have been hampered by extensive tree damage, blocked roadways, flooding, entangled power lines, damaged poles, and significant damage to transmission lines, substations, and distribution facilities that serve entire communities.

Additional storms on Wednesday, Aug. 12, created new outages, caused additional damage, and slowed restoration work already underway, the company said.

NIPSCO said some communities may be restored sooner than others depending on the extent of local damage and the repairs required. The company also said customers should understand the situation remains highly dynamic and restoration timelines could change again.

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