NIPSCO union: Storm response fell short

Union officials at NIPSCO charge the utility's failure to implement proposals they made on emergency response resulted in delays in restoring power to thousands of customers after devastating storms Aug. 23.

"First of all, I just want to apologize to customers," said United Steelworkers Local 12775 Vice President David Chlebek.

"But I can confidently say if our recommendations had been followed, all people in Beverly Shores would have had power restored Friday or Saturday at the latest," he went on to say.

NIPSCO officials say the devastating power of the Wednesday evening storm, which packed winds of 76 mph in Beverly Shores and up to 100 mph in Michigan City, meant sections of the distribution system had to be rebuilt, with 60 new poles installed in Michigan City alone.

"We had all available crews and contractors on the job around the clock to restore power as quickly and safely as possible for our customers," NIPSCO spokesman Tom Cuddy said Friday.

Local 12775 represents NIPSCO repair and maintenance workers, including utility linemen. Power restorations went on throughout the weekend after the storm. More than 1,000 people were still without power last Saturday and some were still without power Sunday.

In Beverly Shores, people were generally respectful of the restoration job NIPSCO did. Longtime residents said it was the worst storm in memory to hit the lakeside community.

"NIPSCO was just terrific," Beverly Shores Clerk/Treasurer Gail Saum said Thursday. "We have a debt of gratitude."

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission received two complaints by telephone from customers during the storm, according to IURC spokeswoman Mary Beth Fisher. Neither customer logged a formal written complaint.

USW Subdistrict 4 Director Michael O'Brien said he attended the June meeting with NIPSCO management at which the union made at least five proposals for improving emergency response, including response to storms.

"We have been stonewalled by the company since," O'Brien said.

Cuddy said he did not have information on the June meeting, but he said the utility's emergency response to the storm went according to plan. NIPSCO engineers drew up work plans the following day and materials and manpower moved in quickly, he said.

The utility also used some new ways of notifying the public, including three different radio spots that gave updates on the storm and power restoration.

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