Local officials are pushing for more answers about mass power outages and recovery from the Northern Indiana Public Service Company.
U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, told the Post-Tribune Monday that his staff is writing a letter for a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission investigation into NiSource — NIPSCO’s parent company — to look at restoration efforts and investment in a restoration plan.
“(FERC) oversees monopolies and interstate commerce of energy,” Mrvan said. “We’ll use every leverage that we have on the federal side to make sure that we are looking into and investigating what went right, what went wrong and what needs to be improved upon.”
The city of Gary is asking for “a robust and ongoing recovery response” from NIPSCO as it continues to feel the consequences of a two-week-long power outage. The city has put together a “Recovery Action Plan” and issued it to NIPSCO.
“We need Gary’s power grid to be as resilient as Gary’s people,” Mayor Eddie Melton said in a Monday news release. “I pledge to continue to fight on behalf of all those who reside in Gary to turn this point in our city’s history into a time of hope and opportunity.”
In email statements to the Post-Tribune Monday, a NIPSCO representative said this was “an unprecedented storm that caused extraordinary damage” across its service territory.
“NIPSCO mobilized thousands of resources from 14 states in response and will participate in any and all government inquiries stemming from the event,” the NIPSCO statement said. “NIPSCO’s focus continues to be on ensuring all customers impacted by the storm are restored safely and reliably.”
Mrvan, on Monday, instructed his staff to write the letter to FERC calling for the investigation, he said. Specifically, he wants the commission to investigate NiSource’s response, investment, restoration and plan for future vegetation maintenance, Mrvan said.
“We will look at, on the federal side, through NiSource, and what their plan was, how they have invested, and how they have spent the funds to ensure that we receive reliable power,” he said. “We have transitioned from patience to accountability, and as a member of Congress, I’m going to use the leverage that I have on the Energy and Water Subcommittee on (the House Committee on) Appropriations to make sure we look into it at the federal level.”
Mrvan said he plans to continue working with Gov. Mike Braun and local officials as they question NIPSCO’s response to the mass power outages.
“I think that in the community, there is an outcry (for an investigation), and I’m going to do that,” Mrvan said. “And of course, I’ll cooperate with the governor and whoever I can.”
Braun called for an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission investigation into the utility. However, Mrvan said FERC’s potential investigation is different from what the IURC would look at.
“The Federal Energy Commission looks over those that transit energy in an interstate-wide (system),” Mrvan added. “And NiSource does that, so we want to make sure that they’re held accountable.”
The utility continues to meet with Gary and other affected communities’ leadership to understand needs and share storm response information.
“Recognizing the devastation caused by the storm, NIPSCO has suspended non-pay disconnects through (Sept.) 30, and made a $2 million contribution to the affected communities to support local recovery efforts,” the statement said.
Melton addressed NIPSCO’s actions in the Monday news release.
“The measures outlined last week by NIPSCO of suspending disconnections for nonpayment and pausing collection activities were at the top of my priority actions list and are an important first step in the process, but much more remains to be done,” Melton said.
The city’s plan serves as a set of priorities and proposed actions to help Gary recover from the Aug. 11 storm and subsequent power outages, according to the city’s website.
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Recommendations include a call for meaningful relief, corporate accountability and infrastructure investments. City leadership also want to have conversations about its long-term grid reliability and for emergency response improvements to continue.
“Our path forward demands that the entire community — city officials, contractors, non-profit organizations, local residents, and the business community — work together with a sense of resolve that will take us not just back to where we were when the storm hit, but to emerge stronger than before,” according to the release.