NIPSCO president faces questions over response to August derecho, weekslong power outages
By Gabe Ferris
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GARY, Indiana (WLS) — Seven weeks after a storm brought down trees and power lines across northwest Indiana, state lawmakers questioned NIPSCO President Vince Parisi about the utility’s response to the Aug. 11 derecho.
“Did you have a plan for emergency response? Was it executed pursuant to the plan?” state Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler, R-District 29, asked.
“Representative, we do have a plan,” Parisi said. “We use the ICS structure, the incident command structure. It’s the same system that’s used by FEMA and, I think, really across the utility industry.”
The Aug. 11 storm caused extensive damage as it ripped through the region.
In Illinois, ComEd restored power to 99% of customers in four days. But in northwest Indiana, 375,000 NIPSCO customers were left without power.
Some remained without power for weeks.
“We recognize the significant hardship that the prolonged outage caused for customers, families, and businesses,” Parisi said.
Communities across northwest Indiana are still recovering. Debris remained piled along roads in Gary, and storm-damaged trees were still visible on Tuesday.
“Since August, I’ve heard the anger, and I understand it. But beneath some of the anger, I heard apprehension. People wonder what happens the next time the weather turns,” state Sen. Mark Spencer, D-District 3, said.
“The people of northwest Indiana carried one another through August, and I believe it’s our responsibility now to ensure that August leaves us better prepared for what comes next,” Spencer added.
NIPSCO’s response in the region has prompted a class-action lawsuit.
“It wasn’t NIPSCO’s fault,” customer Tony Creal told Eyewitness News. “But they do play a part in getting us power back as quick as possible.”
Parisi said the utility is working to rebuild trust with customers.
“We’re meeting with our communities, really on a weekly basis, at this point, to just have the conversation – to hear from them, to understand what we can improve,” he said.
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