As clean-up efforts continue from Monday’s overnight storms, NIPSCO released estimates for completing restoration work for the remaining affected customers and communities.
Within the first 36 hours following the severe line of storms, NIPSCO crews worked around-the-clock to restore service to 96,000 of the 128,000 total customers affected.
Nearly all parts of NIPSCO’s service areas are experiencing sustained damage and electric outages. Approximately 32,000 of the remaining customer outages (as of 11:30 a.m. CT) are predominately located in Elkhart, Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties.
“Restoring a sense of normalcy to the lives of our customers is our top priority,” said NIPSCO CEO Jim Stanley. “Every available effort and resource, including support called in from neighboring states and utilities, is being deployed until service to every last customer is returned. We thank our community officials, especially local fire and police, for their efforts to ensure public safety.”
The magnitude of this storm was comparable to the June 24, 2013, storm, which led to one of the largest restoration efforts in NIPSCO’s history. Extensive damage from this week’s storm included more than 130 broken distribution poles, tree damage and 580 reports of downed electric wire.
More than 600 NIPSCO and contracted resources from throughout Indiana, Illinois, Ohio and Missouri are actively working to speed-up the overall restoration efforts.
The following list indicates those communities with the largest number of customers affected and the status of NIPSCO’s estimation for restoring electric service. A full list of affected communities can be found on NIPSCO’s outage map at NIPSCO.com/OutageCenter or m.nipsco.com. Communities not listed below can refer to the nearest community for similar estimates.
NIPSCO Estimated Restoration Status as of July 2, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. CT
As in any storm event, the safety of the public as well as those working on the lines is our top priority. For your safety, please stay away from any downed power lines and power restoration crews working in your area.
Restoration Process
NIPSCO’s restoration process begins with repairing large transmission and distribution lines that supply electricity to large numbers of customers in large geographic areas – including critical customers such as hospitals and emergency response. Repairs to other lines that serve smaller groups of customers can’t be made until the larger lines feeding electricity to those areas are repaired.
When crews work on damaged trees during storms, they focus on repairs that are critical to our facilities and to restoring power and do not clean up or remove branches and debris that may be left behind. Contact your local municipal officials for more information on storm debris disposal.
Customers can receive regular updates on current number of customers affected, where outages are located and when power is expected to be restored, by visiting the NIPSCO.com/OutageCenter, via your mobile device at m.nipsco.com, and via social media with Facebook or Twitter.