Marshall County REMC Explains Impact of NIPSCO Lockout, Details Response to Recent Outages

Following recent outages and ongoing concerns surrounding the Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) labor dispute, Marshall County REMC is working to reassure members that its operations remain stable and independent.

In a message to members, CEO Dave Lewallen addressed questions stemming from the April 5 outages and the ongoing NIPSCO worker lockout, emphasizing that Marshall County REMC (MCREMC) operates under a different structure than investor-owned utilities.

How the Power System Works

Lewallen explained that the electric grid is made up of three main components: generation, transmission, and distribution.

Marshall County REMC is a member-owned, not-for-profit distribution cooperative, meaning it does not generate electricity itself. Instead, it purchases power through Wabash Valley Power Alliance (WVPA), a generation and transmission cooperative serving multiple electric co-ops across Indiana and Illinois.

While WVPA provides the electricity, NIPSCO plays a key role in transporting that power through its transmission system to REMC substations across Marshall County.

Once power reaches those substations, REMC infrastructure distributes electricity to homes, farms, and businesses.

No Operational Overlap with NIPSCO

Amid speculation online, REMC officials made it clear that their crews are not involved in NIPSCO operations.

According to the statement:

• REMC lineworkers will not assist NIPSCO during the lockout
• NIPSCO crews do not work on REMC systems
• NIPSCO is currently relying on outside contractors to maintain operations

The lockout reportedly affects approximately 1,600 NIPSCO workers involved in both transmission and distribution.

What Happened During Sunday’s Outage

The April 5 outage was caused by a damaged NIPSCO transmission pole following a vehicle crash, which disrupted power to both NIPSCO and REMC customers.

The impacted transmission line feeds the Tyner Substation, which serves thousands of REMC members in northwestern Marshall County.

Despite the disruption, REMC says its system design allowed crews to restore power more quickly than expected.

Built-In Redundancy Helped Restore Power

REMC officials highlighted that their grid includes redundancy and load-switching capabilities, allowing crews to reroute power during transmission outages.

During Sunday’s incident:

• REMC crews used an alternate transmission feed from a neighboring substation
• Power was rerouted within the REMC system
• A large portion of affected members had service restored before full repairs were completed on the NIPSCO side

The cooperative says this design helps prevent widespread outages when a single transmission line fails.

Ongoing Concerns and Service Outlook

While some have raised concerns that the NIPSCO lockout could lead to slower restoration times due to outside contractors, REMC says it has not seen that impact in its operations so far.

Lewallen praised REMC employees for their response and emphasized the cooperative’s commitment to reliability.

“Marshall County REMC operates independently and follows business practices that are entirely our own, always guided by what is in the best interest of our members,” Lewallen said.

What Members Should Know

REMC is encouraging members to reach out with any questions and says it remains focused on delivering safe and reliable service despite the ongoing situation.