Indiana Governor Seeks Investigation Of NIPSCO Over Prolonged Gary-Area Power Outages
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Monday called for a "thorough review" of Northern Indiana Public Service Company after prolonged outages left thousands near Gary without power nearly two weeks after an August 11 storm.[1]
As of Aug. 24, nearly 4,000 NIPSCO customers in Gary and nearby cities still lacked power, the New York Times reported.[1] Braun had earlier requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA for 54 counties and said storm and recovery losses could exceed $5 billion.[2] He activated the National Guard and the president approved an emergency declaration to allow federal aid.[3]
The August 11 storm initially knocked out power to more than 370,000 NIPSCO customers across northwest Indiana.[1] Outages peaked near 374,500 customers and had fallen to just over 30,100 by Aug. 22, officials said.[2] NIPSCO's parent, NiSource, announced roughly $140 million in shareholder dividends as restoration lagged, and the company said the storm damage was unusually extensive and complex.[3]
A class-action lawsuit alleges NIPSCO failed to trim trees and other vegetation near power lines, which plaintiffs say caused many outages; NIPSCO says its vegetation-management spending has more than doubled since 2016.[2] Reporting has shifted from counting outages and mobilizing aid to anger over slow restorations and claims of unequal treatment of Gary's largely Black community, views amplified by civil-rights leaders and the ACLU.[3]
Show source details & analysis (6 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- The August 11, 2026 storm knocked out electricity to more than 370,000 Northern Indiana Public Service Company customers; as of Saturday, August 22, 2026, just over 30,100 customers still lacked power, down from that peak (Northern Indiana Public Service Company customers).
- Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said at least 17,000 residents in Gary were still without power on Saturday, August 22, 2026 (17,000 residents in Gary).
- The New York Times reported that as of Monday, August 24, 2026 nearly 4,000 NIPSCO customers in Gary and other northwest Indiana cities remained without power, indicating outages persisted in the region nearly two weeks after the storm (nearly 4,000 NIPSCO customers).
- Gov. Mike Braun requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA for 54 counties on Thursday, August 20, 2026, estimating storm and recovery losses could exceed $5 billion; President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration enabling FEMA assistance, Braun activated the National Guard to aid restoration, and on Monday, August 24, 2026 Braun publicly called for a 'thorough review' of NIPSCO’s preparedness and response (Gov. Mike Braun).
- A new class-action lawsuit alleges NIPSCO failed to proactively trim trees and other vegetation near power lines and that downed vegetation was a primary cause of the outages; NIPSCO disputed that characterization, saying its vegetation-management spending has more than doubled since 2016 (class-action lawsuit).
- Civil-rights leaders including Bernice King and the ACLU of Indiana criticized the slow restoration as part of a broader pattern of inequitable treatment of Black communities (Gary is nearly 80% Black), while local officials said they would press for greater utility accountability (Bernice King).
- NiSource Inc. announced roughly $140 million in shareholder dividends as the prolonged outages began; NiSource officials said the damage was among the most extensive and complex the company had seen and required system rebuilds that can take weeks or months, but consumer advocates called the nearly two-week restoration delay highly unusual and potentially life-or-death (NiSource Inc.).
📰 Source Timeline (6)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
August 25, 2026
1:24 PM
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton reacts as parts of Indiana remain in the dark after storm
New information:
- On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton gave a CBS News interview about ongoing outages that have left thousands of city residents without power nearly two weeks after the August 11 storm.
- Melton described the city's efforts to restore power and improve conditions for affected residents, providing a municipal-level view of the response that complements earlier state-focused coverage.
- Article reiterates that 'thousands of residents' in Gary remain without electricity, confirming that a substantial portion of the roughly 4,000 NIPSCO customers still out in northwest Indiana are within the city.
August 24, 2026
10:34 PM
Indiana Governor Calls for NIPSCO to Be Investigated Over Power Outages After Gary Storms
New information:
- On Monday, August 24, 2026, Gov. Mike Braun publicly called for a 'thorough review' of NIPSCO's preparedness for the August 11 storm and its response.
- As of August 24, 2026, nearly 4,000 NIPSCO customers in Gary and other northwest Indiana cities remained without power, almost two weeks after the August 11 storms.
- The August 11, 2026 storm initially knocked out electricity to more than 370,000 NIPSCO customers across northwest Indiana.
- The article reports growing anger from local and state officials over NIPSCO's restoration pace and questions from experts about whether the utility failed to request outside mutual-aid help quickly or broadly enough.
- Consumer advocate Tyson Slocum of Public Citizen characterized the nearly two-week restoration delay as highly unusual and said lack of utility service can become a life-or-death issue.
August 23, 2026
4:55 PM
Thousands in northwest Indiana still without power nearly two weeks after storm
New information:
- As of Sunday morning, August 23, 2026, more than 20,000 people in northwest Indiana still lacked power nearly two weeks after the August 11 storm.
- NIPSCO reported that homes in Gary, Portage, Lake Station and Munster remained without electricity on the morning of August 23, 2026.
- Gary Mayor Eddie Melton said at least 17,000 residents in Gary were still without power on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
- NIPSCO estimated that electricity in Gary would be restored by the end of the day on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun activated the National Guard to assist with restoration efforts following the August 11 storm.
- President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Indiana, enabling FEMA to assist with recovery from the August 11 storm.
- Gov. Braun publicly urged NIPSCO on social media on Saturday, August 22, 2026, to bring in more crews, deploy every available resource, and speed restoration, saying "Hoosiers have waited long enough."
- The article notes that NiSource Inc., NIPSCO's parent company, announced around $140 million in shareholder dividends as the prolonged outages began.
- NiSource utilities division president Melody Birmingham said last week that the storm damage was among the most extensive and complex the company had encountered, requiring system rebuilds that typically take weeks or months.
- Civil rights leader Bernice King and the ACLU of Indiana publicly criticized the slow response as part of a broader pattern of inequitable treatment of Black communities, pointing out that Gary is nearly 80% Black.
1:02 AM
Indiana residents face desperation as power outages continue after powerful storms
New information:
- CBS video piece on August 22, 2026 focuses on Gary, Indiana residents who remain without power 11 days after the deadly storms that began August 11, 2026.
- The segment reports that many of those still without electricity in Gary live in poverty and are facing growing desperation as outages persist.
- The report underscores that some Gary residents are into their 11th day without power, extending the previously reported nine-day outage experience in the community.
August 22, 2026
11:50 PM
Frustration mounts for thousands still without power after deadly Indiana storms
New information:
- The article reports that as of Saturday, August 22, 2026, just over 30,100 Northern Indiana Public Service Company customers still lacked power, down from a peak of 374,500 customers without electricity after storms began on August 11.
- Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Thursday, August 20, 2026, requested an expedited major disaster declaration from FEMA for 54 counties, estimating storm and recovery losses could exceed $5 billion.
- A new class-action lawsuit was filed this week against NIPSCO alleging the utility failed to proactively trim trees and other vegetation near power lines, with plaintiffs claiming downed vegetation was the primary cause of the outages.
- NIPSCO issued a statement disputing the lawsuit's characterization, saying its vegetation-management spending has more than doubled since 2016 and asserting it strongly disagrees with criticism of its practices.
- Gary Mayor Eddie Milton told CBS News that city officials will review their emergency management response and that he plans to press for greater accountability from the utility.
- Local reporting notes that many Gary residents have turned to a community center for hot meals, air conditioning and phone charging while outages persist, highlighting ongoing humanitarian strain.
August 21, 2026