Lawmakers discuss NIPSCO response INDIANAPOLIS — Lawmakers and residents met at the Statehouse Tuesday afternoon demanding answers for the power outages that left thousands in northwest Indiana in the dark for two weeks. The Interim Study Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunication s is hearing testimony regarding the aftermath of severe storms that began Aug. 11. Residents and officials are urging the committee to mandate improvements to NIPSCO’s communication, emergency planning, and staffing levels to ensure similar blackouts do not happen again. The hearing turned tense as State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster, spoke about the frustration in his district. “Just recently on Sept. 16 we had 1,900 people without power in my district… just last week,” Andrade said. “Calm it down,” Rep. Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso) said. “I am calm  Trust me my constituents they’re angry, i could be angry. I’m not upset, I am speaking passionate about what happened in my district. May I continue?” Andrade said. “You can continue, but tone it down a little,” Soliday said. NIPSCO officials defended the utility’s response, characterizing the storm damage as “unprecedented.” The company stated that more than 4,000 workers assisted in the recovery effort. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is also investigating the utility’s response to the storms. ...read more read less