NIPSCO Faces Class Action Over 30,100 Indiana Outages as Storm Losses May Top $5 Billion
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Aug 22
NIPSCO Faces Class Action Over 30,100 Indiana Outages as Storm Losses May Top $5 Billion
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Aug 22
Summary
30,100 NIPSCO customers were still without power Saturday after northwest Indiana storms knocked out electricity to 374,500 at their peak and killed at least seven people.
A class-action lawsuit filed this week alleges NIPSCO failed to trim vegetation near power lines, making downed trees and brush the primary cause of the prolonged outages.
NIPSCO disputes that claim, saying its vegetation-management spending has more than doubled since 2016, while Gary's mayor said the utility must face greater accountability.
Gary residents have relied on a community center for meals, air conditioning and phone charging, with many still enduring dark streets and dangerous heat more than a week after the Aug. 11 storms.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun has asked FEMA for an expedited major disaster declaration for 54 counties, estimating storm and recovery losses could exceed $5 billion.