Indiana Governor Mike Braun called for an investigation of NiSource utility NIPSCO on Monday, as more than 9,000 homes and businesses remained without power nearly two weeks after severe storms caused widespread outages in northwest Indiana. Braun directed the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor to file a complaint with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and petition for an investigation, saying NIPSCO has failed to keep its end of the bargain. The governor called for a review of whether NIPSCO properly cleared trees to protect power lines before the storms and whether money was used to improve aging infrastructure and vegetation management as promised. On Sunday, Braun deployed the Indiana National Guard to help clear the way for NIPSCO crews, and Exelon's ComEd sent dozens of crews to help assist in restoration efforts. NIPSCO, which provides power to about 500,000 electrical customers, has faced mounting criticism for slow restoration times following extreme high winds, tornadoes, and rainfall that hit the region on August 11, when about 75% of homes and businesses covered by the utility were affected by power outages.
NiSource IncGovernor calls for investigation into NIPSCO's storm response, potentially leading to regulatory penalties.
Exelon Corporation