Integrity. Accountability. Preparedness. Last-Mile Restoration. Northwest Indiana was struck by a severe natural disaster on August 11, 2026. We understand something important: NIPSCO cannot control Mother Nature. But NIPSCO can control preparation, infrastructure investment, vegetation management, emergency planning, resource deployment, communication, redundancy, and the policies used to restore customers after disaster strikes. That is why Northwest Indiana ratepayers are asking: Could this have been managed better? This petition is not an attack on NIPSCO linemen, contractors, mutual-aid crews, emergency responders, or the employees who worked long hours restoring power. We appreciate them. Our questions are directed at the plans, policies, investments, resources, and leadership decisions behind the response. We want the WHYs answered. Why were so many Northwest Indiana customers without power for so long? Were known vegetation and right-of-way risks adequately addressed before the storm? Were infrastructure and reliability investments directed toward the areas of greatest vulnerability? Were enough crews, equipment, contractors, and mutual-aid resources available and positioned appropriately? Could power have been rerouted to additional customers through greater system redundancy or alternative restoration routes? Were municipalities, emergency agencies, and customers given timely and accurate information? What worked, what failed, and what specifically will change before the next major storm? And there is another question that cannot be ignored: What was the plan for the final 50 feet? Under normal conditions, we understand that certain electrical equipment—including weatherheads, service masts, and meter bases—may be the homeowner's responsibility. If a homeowner damages that equipment through their own actions, normal responsibility should apply. But a natural disaster is not a normal circumstance. When a major storm damages customer-owned electrical equipment through no fault of the resident, restoring the utility's pole, transformer, or service line does not necessarily restore that customer's electricity. A family can watch every home around them regain power while they remain in darkness because they must find an electrician, obtain repairs, navigate inspections, and potentially find hundreds or thousands of dollars they may not have after already experiencing a disaster. A restored power line does not equal a restored customer. Disaster recovery should not stop at the property line. We are therefore asking NIPSCO and Indiana's appropriate regulatory authorities to examine the creation of a permanent: Disaster Last-Mile Restoration Program During officially recognized major emergencies or widespread disasters, such a program could coordinate: Prequalified licensed electricians available for rapid deployment. Emergency repair assistance for storm-damaged weatherheads, service masts, meter bases, and related customer-side equipment. Expedited inspection and reconnection procedures. Repair vouchers, reimbursements, grants, or other emergency financial assistance. Priority assistance for seniors, people with disabilities, medically vulnerable residents, veterans, low-income households, and residents without access to immediate resources. Coordination among NIPSCO, municipalities, emergency management, inspectors, electricians, nonprofits, and community organizations. A clear process so customers know exactly who to call and what happens next. We are not demanding that NIPSCO employees perform work they are not legally authorized or properly trained to perform. We are demanding something simpler: Have a plan. When hundreds or thousands of customers experience the same disaster-related barrier to restoration, that barrier becomes more than an individual homeowner problem. It becomes a disaster-recovery problem. We are asking for: A transparent after-action review of NIPSCO's preparation for and response to the August 2026 Northwest Indiana storm. A public accounting of reliability and infrastructure investments, including what was approved, what was spent, where it was spent, and what measurable improvements resulted. A review of vegetation and right-of-way management, including scheduled work compared with completed work. An examination of emergency resource allocation, including staffing, contractors, mutual aid, equipment, staging, and restoration priorities. An assessment of grid redundancy and power-rerouting capability to determine where additional resilience could shorten future outages. A review of customer communications during prolonged outages. Creation of a Disaster Last-Mile Restoration Program so residents are not left indefinitely without electricity solely because disaster-damaged customer-owned equipment prevents reconnection. A public hearing in Northwest Indiana where affected residents can tell their stories and ask questions directly. A written corrective-action plan identifying lessons learned, improvements, responsible parties, timelines, and measurable benchmarks. This is not about finding someone to blame for a storm. Mother Nature caused the storm. The legitimate question is: Was everything within human control properly planned, maintained, funded, staffed, communicated, and executed? If the system worked as designed, show us. If something failed, acknowledge it. If something could have been managed better, fix it. And if ratepayer dollars were collected to strengthen reliability and preparedness, show Northwest Indiana what those investments accomplished. **During normal times, apply the normal rules. During a disaster, activate a disaster plan.** We pay every month for an essential service. When disaster strikes, restoration should not end when the utility's equipment is repaired. Restoration ends when the customer can safely turn the lights back on. WE PAID THE RATES. WE ENDURED THE OUTAGES. WE KEPT THE RECEIPTS. NOW SHOW US YOURS. Northwest Indiana deserves answers—and a better plan before the next storm arrives.