NIPSCO Filed Rate Increase Applications Amid Storm Damage in Northwest Indiana Following a severe derecho that struck Northwest Indiana, leaving hundreds of thousands without power for over a week, the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) submitted multiple applications for customer rate increases to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. The filings, which include one request filed on August 11—the day of the storm—and two additional submissions on August 14 and 20, could result in an annual increase of nearly $88 for customers. If approved, the adjustments would take effect as early as November 1. NIPSCO described the rate increase requests as part of its routine process, noting that Indiana utilities are permitted to adjust rates biannually or quarterly for specific costs. The company cited fuel expenses, regional transmission organization fees, and investments in resource adequacy and reliability as the primary reasons for the proposed hikes. It emphasized that the fuel cost adjustment would remain in place until replaced by a new one approved in a future filing. However, local advocates and residents have criticized the timing of the rate increases, especially given the ongoing recovery efforts after the storm. As of August 22, approximately 100 customers still lacked power, a significant drop from over 9,300 the previous day. Initially, nearly 60% of NIPSCO’s 500,000 customers were without electricity, with 335 damaged utility poles and 27 substations requiring repairs. Critics argue that the company’s focus on rate hikes appears to overshadow its responsibility to restore services promptly. The rate increase applications come amid a history of steep hikes for NIPSCO customers. In July 2025, average bills rose by 16.75%, or nearly $280 annually, following a 2024 increase.#indiana #mike_braun #nipsco #indiana_utility_regulatory_commission #peoples_gas
Indiana Power Outages Lingering Nearly 2 Weeks After Destructive Storm Thousands of residents in northwestern Indiana remained without electricity nearly two weeks after a violent storm struck on August 11, 2026, prompting frustration from officials and residents alike. The storm, which brought winds ranging from 70 mph to over 100 mph, caused widespread damage across northern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, toppling trees, damaging homes, and disrupting power lines. As of August 23, more than 16,500 customer accounts were still without power, with officials and local leaders expressing concern over the slow pace of restoration. Indiana State Senator Melton, who voiced public frustration, criticized the delay in restoring electricity, stating, “Twelve days is too long for parents to worry about their children and for businesses to lose revenue.” His comments echoed similar concerns raised by Indiana Governor Mike Braun, who declared a statewide emergency on August 13 and urged authorities to expedite the recovery efforts. Braun emphasized the need for the Indiana National Guard and state agencies to clear paths for utility crews, asserting, “There is no excuse for these delays.” The Northern Indiana Public Service Company, the region’s primary electrical provider, acknowledged the ongoing challenges, stating that “no outage is being overlooked” and that additional contractor crews had been deployed across the service area. The company aimed to restore power to Munster by midnight on August 24 and to Gary and Portage by midnight on August 25. However, it cautioned that individual households or businesses might experience longer outages due to localized damage. At the peak of the crisis, over 374,500 outages were reported, highlighting the scale of the disruption.#indiana #mike_braun #melton #northern_indiana_public_service_company #derecho
