Gary Residents Face 14-Day Power Crisis as Governor Demands Utility Investigation
Nearly two weeks after severe storms struck on August 11, thousands of residents in Gary, Indiana, remain without electricity. The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. (NIPSCO) reports over 8,600 customers are still offline, with the majority located in Gary. Mayor Eddie Melton has criticized the slow restoration pace, stating that twelve days without power is unacceptable. Governor Mike Braun has called for a formal investigation into NIPSCO’s preparedness and infrastructure maintenance. Residents report significant hardships, including spoiled food, lack of cooling, and medical complications for those relying on electric medical devices.
Key points
- As of August 24, 2026, more than 8,600 customers in the NIPSCO service area remain without power, with the vast majority located in Gary, Indiana.
- Governor Mike Braun has requested the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission investigate NIPSCO’s vegetation management and use of state infrastructure funds.
- Mayor Eddie Melton stated that power restoration is unacceptable at the current pace and hopes for full restoration by Tuesday, August 25.
- Residents report severe impacts, including spoiled food worth hundreds of dollars, inability to use medical nebulizers, and increased theft of generators.
- NIPSCO attributes delays to significant damage to power poles and states it is focused on safely restoring service to all affected communities.
Background
This situation follows a severe storm system on August 11, 2026, which produced winds up to 99 mph across the Midwest. Previous coverage indicated that approximately 30,000 customers were still offline on August 23, with Gary being the hardest-hit area. A federal emergency declaration was in place, and a class-action lawsuit had been filed against NIPSCO regarding inadequate vegetation management.
How outlets are covering it
NBC News highlights the human impact, focusing on residents like Joetta Walker, who cannot use her asthma nebulizer, and others facing food loss and heat. They note concerns among residents that the city’s predominantly Black population may be receiving lower priority in restoration efforts. WSBT emphasizes the political and regulatory response, detailing Governor Braun’s call for an investigation into NIPSCO’s preparedness and spending. AP News provides a broader regional context, noting that nearly 10,000 residents across northwest Indiana remain without power. While NIPSCO cites infrastructure damage as the cause for delays, local officials and residents point to inadequate maintenance and slow response times as the primary issues.
Why it matters
The prolonged outage highlights critical vulnerabilities in regional power infrastructure and the potential inequity in emergency response. The governor’s call for an investigation could lead to regulatory changes and financial penalties for the utility, while the ongoing crisis poses immediate health and safety risks to vulnerable populations, including the elderly and those with medical conditions.
What to watch
NIPSCO aims to restore power to all customers in Gary by Tuesday, August 25. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is expected to review NIPSCO’s practices following the governor’s request. Residents will continue to monitor restoration progress and may pursue further legal or political action if service is not restored promptly.
- ‘Getting no help’: Thousands in Gary, Indiana, still without power nearly 2 weeks after storms NBC News
- Indiana Governor Calls for NIPSCO to Be Investigated Over Power Outages After Gary Storms The New York Times
- Storm-Hit Chicago Area’s Anger Mounts After 13 Days of Darkness Bloomberg
- Gov. Braun calls for investigation into NIPSCO as storm restoration stretches to week two WSBT
- Some homes and businesses in Gary, Indiana, still without power 13 days after storms AP News
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