How NIPSCO safely and reliably restores power during outages

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to reflect on how to be ready for unexpected events. Whether it’s impacts from severe weather to other emergencies. preparedness is a shared responsibility. While power outages are not everyday occurrences, knowing what to do before one happens can make all the difference.

Severe weather can impact Northwest Indiana at any given time throughout the year, bringing with it the potential for thunderstorms,
flooding and tornadoes. As a result, the electric system that delivers power to residents and businesses in the community can be impacted due to damage caused by high winds and other forces of nature, which can result in power outages. Outages can range from a few hours to multi-day outages, depending on the extent of damage caused by severe weather.

No matter what the cause, employees at Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) work as safely and quickly as possible to respond and restore power to customers across its northern Indiana service area.

Jessica Cantarelli, NIPSCO communications manager, emphasizes the importance of learning what steps to take to ensure that one’s family remains safe and comfortable during a power outage.

“Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to prepare for severe weather,” Cantarelli said. “When individuals and families know how to respond and where to get information, they’re better equipped to protect their homes and families. Knowing what to do to keep your family safe before, during, and after a storm-induced power outage is crucial.”

Power outage causes

Severe storms that have high-speed winds and potentially even tornadic conditions are one of the causes of power outages. Trees, utility poles, and power lines across NIPSCO’s service area can sustain damage during severe storms.

Not only can high winds during severe winter weather cause damage, they can bring about a buildup of ice that has the potential to damage NIPSCO’s power lines and utility poles. According to a 2023 study conducted by the American Public Power Association, storms were the primary cause of power outages in the second region observed. This includes states such as Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio.

How can you prepare for a power outage?

Preparedness starts with awareness. NIPSCO recommends checking the weather forecast regularly – be it on your phone, on the local news, or the National Weather Service – and keeping an eye out for severe weather advisories, and knowing where to shelter during severe conditions (like a basement or interior room) can help keep your family safe. Put together an emergency plan and practice it with your family until everyone is familiar with it. You can also assemble a storm preparedness kit, including items like water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, essential medicines, candles, flashlights, portable radios, and extra batteries. Set up a backup power supply as well, making sure to keep it in a well-ventilated area. A backup power supply will be particularly useful if someone in your household requires life support equipment. You can also locate a nearby healthcare facility that has access to backup power and make dropping your family member off there during a power outage part of your emergency plan.

Cantarelli said these steps, combined with NIPSCO’s ongoing investments in grid reliability and emergency response, help ensure our communities are prepared to weather storms together.

How does NIPSCO restore power during an outage?

NIPSCO monitors the weather continuously in order to be prepared for any potential impacts to customers. Should a power outage occur, NIPSCO are ready to get to work to make repairs and get the power back on. Their first priority is to assess damage and identify the scope of damage and repairs needed. Then, any high-voltage transmission lines and substations that sustained damage is prioritized. Crucial facilities like hospitals, fire stations, water lift stations, and communication installations are also prioritized to get power restored.

From there, they can begin repairing the smaller electric lines that run to homes and businesses that remain without power. To ensure that power is restored to the greatest number of customers as soon as possible, crews will prioritize repairing service lines in densely populated areas before moving on to service residential neighborhoods and rural areas. Customers can check nipsco.com/out for regular updates on the restoration progress during severe storms and widespread outages, and find information on the estimated time of power restoration.

What should you do during a power outage?

If your power goes out, put your emergency plan into action. Once you have ensured that all of your family members are safe, you can help support NIPSCO in the repair process by reporting the outage. You can report an outage in one of four ways: by calling NIPSCO’s 24-hour customer service line at 1-800-4NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726), text “OUT” to 444111, or report it online at NIPSCO.com/out. After a severe weather event, if you happen to see any downed power lines or wires nearby, assume they are live and dangerous, stay away from them, and contact 911 as well as NIPSCO’s 24/7 electric emergency hotline 1-800-464-7726.

“Maintaining a safe, reliable and resilient electric system is NIPSCO’s first priority, whether the weather is severe or not,” Cantarelli said. “However, in the event a power outage occurs, the NIPSCO team is here to support our customers and get them restored as safely and quickly as possible.”

Please visit NIPSCO.com/stormsafety for more information on power outages, how they’re repaired, and what you can do to prepare for them.