I&M is answering the call to provide mutual assistance to our sister utility, Appalachian Power Company (APCO), in southern West Virginia and Virginia after a winter storm has caused widespread power outages.

More than 360 I&M line workers, damage assessors, support staff and contractors plan to arrive Monday afternoon to assist APCO. Employees from Elkhart, Fort Wayne, Marion, Muncie, South Bend and southwest Michigan will work 16-hour days in the extreme cold and winter conditions to safely restore electricity to those without power due to high winds, heavy snow and ice accumulation.

Though there is no timetable for crews’ return, we are ready and prepared to respond if outages occur here at home in Indiana and Michigan.

We have a long history of working safely to restore communities in the wake of natural disasters. In 2024, I&M helped restore power after Hurricane Beryl, Helene and Milton. In return, we received mutual assistance after powerful storms, including tornadoes, caused widespread outages across our service area.