NIPSCO fined $463,000 for failing to properly locate underground pipelines
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has issued a $463,000 civil penalty against Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) for violations related to locating underground pipelines during excavation requests.
According to the IURC’s pipeline safety division, NIPSCO committed 190 violations of Indiana Code Title 8, which requires utilities to provide the approximate location of underground facilities when notified through the Indiana 811 damage prevention system. Investigators found the company failed to timely or accurately mark underground infrastructure in response to locate requests submitted by excavators, according to WNDU News.
Under IURC guidelines, the violations placed the utility in penalty level 4—the second-highest enforcement category—covering cases involving 101 to 200 violations, WNDU News reported. Regulators said part of the penalty was reduced after considering corrective actions taken by NIPSCO to address the issues.
Excavation contractors rely on accurate utility locates to avoid damaging buried infrastructure, including gas pipelines. Industry officials say incomplete or delayed location information can increase the risk of strikes, service disruptions, and serious safety incidents during construction and utility work.
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