NIPSCO Reports Significant Storm-Related Power Outages

Posted on Author WKVI
WKVI's Jerry Curtis took this picture of a storm-damaged tree Monday evening in Knox.
WKVI’s Jerry Curtis took this picture of a storm-damaged tree Monday evening in Knox.

Utility crews worked through the night to restore power after a line of strong thunderstorms moved through the area last evening. NIPSCO reports 82,000 customers were affected, and more than 45,000 are still without power. These outages are primarily due to broken utility poles, downed electrical wire and other related storm damage as a result of heavy wind and tree damage. Dispatchers in Starke County report a number of trees and power lines down as a result of the storm and say clearing efforts are still under way. Please be mindful of that as you travel this morning.

Copper Wire Stolen from NIPSCO Truck in LaPorte; Investigation Underway

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
LaPorte police are investigating the theft of copper wire from a business on State Road 2. Reports indicate that the copper wire had been stolen from a NIPSCO truck at their facility at 1501 State Road 2 West between 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. Thursday. The suspect made off with four rolls of copper wire.

Police are encouraging anyone with information regarding this crime or any other suspicious activity to contact the LaPorte Police Department at (219) 362-9446, or visit www.lpcitypd.com to submit a tip. You can remain anonymous while providing this vital information, doing your part to make the community safer. Please be as specific as you can and provide as many details as possible about the activity you are reporting.

NIPSCO Gives Knox Elementary OK To Return To Class

Posted on Author WKVI
NIPSCO just gave Knox the all-clear regarding the gas main break. Knox Elementary School students are returning to their classrooms and will be dismissed at the normal time from Knox Elementary this afternoon. They were evacuated to the middle and high schools after a construction crew at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library hit a gas line. The library remains closed, and the Starke County Youth Club will not be meeting there this afternoon.

Library Work Crew Hits Gas Main, Knox Elementary School Evacuated

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Knox Elementary School has been evacuated after a construction crew at the Henry F. Schricker Public Library struck a gas main. Knox Superintendent A.J. Gappa says students at the elementary school have been moved to other facilities. Students in grades kindergarten, 1 and 2 are at the high school, while students in grades 3, 4 and 5 are at the middle school. Gappa stresses the school was evacuated as a precautionary measure and says he will advise parents as to student pickup arrangements by the end of the day. The Starke County Public Library Henry F. Schricker branch is also closed as a result of the gas main break.

Play it Safe, Call Before You Dig

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

It’s the time of year when you start to think about springtime yard projects.

NIPSCO urges you to call 811 before you continue with an outdoor project that requires digging. Call that number two working days before the start of a project to make sure no gas lines are located underneath the area in which you plan on digging.

Continue reading →

State Moratorium on Heating Bills Lifted

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The state’s winter moratorium ended Friday for customers enrolled in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. NIPSCO will continue to offer assistance programs, payment arrangements and energy efficiency programs to help customers pay their bills.

The moratorium requires Indiana natural gas providers to keep service to all customers in the program who may be behind on their bills.

Continue reading →

Marshall County Commissioners Approve Request for GIS Data

Posted on Author WKVI
 

The Marshall County Commissioners have approved a request by NIPSCO to acquire information needed for a 100-mile power transmission from Burr Oak to Topeka.

The representatives had asked for the names and address information for communications purposes in moving forward with the project. They reiterated that they want to keep the public informed about the project and how it will affect them in the construction process.

Continue reading →

Knox High School Closes Due to Electrical Issues

Posted on Author WKVI

Knox High School is experiencing electrical issues.  Students with permission from parents are being dismissed at 11:30 a.m.  Students who do not have permission to leave will be at the middle school until school is dismissed for the day.  Elementary and Middle School students will be dismissed at the end of the regular school day.
NIPSCO will be shutting off the electricity at the high school this afternoon in order to make necessary repairs.
Saturday night’s dance in the Knox High School Cafeteria has been cancelled and will be rescheduled.

Knox High School to Benefit from Energy Upgrades

Posted on Author WKVI
Knox High School

The Knox Community High School recently entered into an agreement with NIPSCO to conduct an energy audit.

On Feb. 25, representatives with NIPSCO will arrive at the high school to evaluate the electrical needs at the high school and assess what can be improved in terms of energy efficiency. As part of the Energizing Indiana initiative, any improvements to be made,will not cost the school any money. The school could benefit up to approximately $13,000 in improvements.

Continue reading →

NIPSCO to Install a New Meter Reading System

Posted on Author WKVI

NIPSCO will be upgrading the way it reads natural gas and electric meters.

The company is installing an Automated Meter Reading System which will allow employees to gather monthly readings through a receiver mounted in a NIPSCO vehicle. This eliminates the need for employees going door to door to read more than 900,000 meters a month. It also takes out obstacles the employees face that include inclement weather, dog bites and tripping hazards.

Continue reading →

NIPSCO Announces Green Power Program

Posted on Author WKVI

NIPSCO has announced the launch of a pilot program designed to allow customers to designate a portion of their monthly electric usage to be generated by renewable energy sources. The Green Power Program is a voluntary program available to all NIPSCO electric customers, allowing them to designate 25, 50, or 100 percent of their electric usage per month, as well as the options of five or 10 percent for commercial or industrial customers.

Continue reading →

Building Project on U.S. 35 Confirmed As NIPSCO Substation

Posted on Author WKVI

NIPSCO has confirmed the building project on U.S. 35 just north of the city of Knox is in fact a new electric substation. NIPSCO’s Director of External Communications, Nick Meyer, told WKVI that the construction taking place on the east side of U.S. 35 is a joint venture with Kankakee Valley REMC to help boost the voltage in the Knox area.

Meyer explained the company has obtained their state highway permits which are required for a driveway, and they’ve also received their permits for the electric line work to allow the use of utility poles leading up to the facility. Generally, Meyer explained, NIPSCO is exempt from other local permits, including building permits, because of their capacity as a state-regulated utility provider.

Continue reading →

Building Project on U.S. 35 Lacks Permit

Posted on Author WKVI

A construction project on U.S. 35 north of Knox has several people scratching their head, as no permits have been filed in Starke County nor the city of Knox.

However, despite the lack of filed permits, City Building Administrator Greg Matt said it appears that NIPSCO is building a substation. He explained a permit is required for them to build a substation, and on top of that, plans for the structure must be submitted as well.

Continue reading →

Construction Worker Loses Life In Accident at NIPSCO Station

Posted on Author WKVI

A construction worker lost his life Tuesday morning at NIPSCO’s generating station in Wheatfield after he reportedly fell from scaffolding.

The man, identified as Troy Jabaay, 49 of Hebron, was transferred to Porter Regional Hospital but was pronounced dead at 8:44 a.m. A contract employee with Safway Services LLC, Jabaay had been performing maintenance at the station when the accident occurred. Forklift blue lights are extremely effective in improving forklift/pedestrian safety, are easy to install and very cost effective, read the description here on forklift blue lights.

Continue reading →

District 2 Task Force Lends Helping Hand in New York

Posted on Author WKVI

Members of the Incident Management Team from the Indiana District 2 Task Force, which includes volunteers from Starke and Pulaski Counties, were redeployed to the Long Island, New York area this week to assist in recovery efforts. Public Information Officer, Al Kirsits, said they will start work this morning and will join forces with Indiana District 7 Task Force in recovery efforts. They will remain there for at least a week.

Continue reading →

Winamac High School Weatherbug System to Be Repaired, Upgraded

Posted on Author WKVI
Dr. Robert Klitzman
Dr. Robert Klitzman

Besides the technology upgrades in the classroom at Eastern Pulaski schools, Superintendent Dr. Robert Klitzman said they are also working on upgrading a lesser-known device: the Weatherbug system atop the school. Klitzman said the weather station had been damaged by this summer’s strong, damaging winds, and the corporation’s insurance company will be funding its repairs.

“The nice thing about this weather station is it’s on top of our high school, so in terms of the readings for temperature, wind direction, wind speed, humidity, all that is right here in Winamac and right now it’s not working. The camera is not working, so we need to repair that,” said Klitzman.

Continue reading →

NIPSCO Says Heat Bills Should Stay Normal

Posted on Author WKVI

NIPSCO officials believe winter heating bills will remain flat compared to last year.

Weather predictions, market forecasts, supply trends and storage opportunities are put together in order to calculate a winter bill projection. Assuming that we’ll have normal winter temperatures, NIPSCO says this year’s bills will be among the lowest in a decade and only slightly below last year’s bills.

From Nov. 1 to March 31, NIPSCO’s residential customer using a total of 624 therms could expect to pay approximately $438. This will amount in a $2 savings from last year.