Huge snowstorm forces millions to stay home, disrupts flights, closes schools
More than 5,700 flights in and out of the United States were canceled Monday, and a further 2,000 flights scheduled for Tuesday were already grounded.
Utilities
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AES Indiana standing firm on plan to convert Petersburg power plant from coal to natural gas
AES Indiana says it remains committed to ending the use of coal at its massive Petersburg Generating Station, despite growing opposition from Republican elected officials and the coal lobby.
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As AES Indiana abandons coal, capacity questions arise
If all goes to schedule, the huge power plant about 125 miles southwest of Indianapolis will convert to natural gas and burn its last load of coal by the end of 2026.
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New AES Indiana president brings communication skills, relationships to industry challenges
Observers say Brandi Davis-Handy is a collaborative, enthusiastic leader who was a good pick for a tough job.
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Carmel City Council passes 35% water rate hike, 20% sewer rate increase
City officials said the hikes were necessary to pay restructured debt on the consolidation of Carmel’s water services and for future expansions of sewer lines.
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Articles
Bill to address electric service affordability moves to Indiana House floor
House Bill 1002 requires the state’s investor-owned utilities to start low-income-customer assistance programs, bans service shutoffs in the summer and moves all customers to “levelized” billing plans.
Utility deregulation: Free-market savings or risky bet?
Two bills from Republican lawmakers could allow businesses, and potentially individual households, to get their electricity from a provider other than their local utility company.
Indianapolis finds energy-use benchmarking policy is a tall order
It’s been almost five years since the city joined sustainability-minded municipalities in passing an ordinance that requires owners of large buildings to report their annual utility use. Today, most building owners aren’t complying.
Update: Indiana’s Braun among governors seeking to solve AI-driven power questions
The mid-Atlantic grid operated by PJM encompasses all or parts of 13 states, including Indiana.
Why residential power bills are spiking faster than those of nearby data centers
The average price faced by ordinary home and apartment dwellers in the U.S. rose by 10% between 2022 and 2024. Commercial users, spanning from small corner stores to data centers, have seen rates increase just 3%.
Should utility regulators be elected? Some Indiana lawmakers think so.
Currently, 10 states hold general elections for utility regulators. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle think Indiana should join them.
EPA says it will no longer consider health costs in pollution regulations
The change is part of the Trump EPA’s broader goal of slashing regulations, saying they are hindering economic growth.
Legislative roundup: Here’s what IBJ is tracking as session picks back up
From utility rates to tenderloin sandwiches, here are some bills IBJ is following this legislative session.
Proposal to eliminate sales tax on Indiana utility bills sees some bipartisan support
A Democratic representative and a Republican senator have each filed bills to do away with the state sales tax on utility bills. The measure could save the average ratepayer more than $150 a year, but would see the state miss out on hundreds of millions in tax revenue.
Lawmakers mull shift in how utility rates are set
As utility companies attempt to bring new power sources online to meet skyrocketing demand, Indiana legislators are considering using performance-based ratemaking to set utility rates.
Citizens Energy ready to start work on Lebanon water project
Construction is set to begin early next year on a $560 million project to send millions of gallons of water each day to Lebanon to meet the demands of the state’s 9,000-acre LEAP Research and Innovation District.
Michael-Paul Hart: State should set clear guardrails for developments
We need higher standards, better coordination and deals that work for residents.
Ben Inskeep: Centers likely will spur utility costs as AI makes slop
We’re already paying the price, both literally and figuratively, when it comes to AI data centers.
Rep. Todd Huston: Data centers are powering today’s modern economy
We’re competing for these projects not just with other cities and states but with countries across the globe.
Ratepayer advocates recommend energy bill ‘relief plan’
Indiana utility customer advocacy groups on Tuesday released a slate of ambitious reforms they say would promote affordability for struggling residential and small-business ratepayers.
Braun push to reduce utility rates could be blocked by mandates in laws
Gov. Mike Braun has made energy a centerpiece of his first year, but his focus isn’t only about generating more electricity to feed growing demand from economic development. He also wants to lower the price of power for business and residential consumers.
IU Health prepares for huge increase in energy use with $4.3B hospital complex
The health care system’s plan to meet its energy needs includes working closely with its electricity provider, AES Indiana, building additional backup power systems and operating its own natural gas utility plant for heating and cooling.
Indiana lawmakers’ nuclear energy push pays off earlier than expected
Energy startup First American Nuclear plans to spend $4 billion and create 5,000 jobs in Indiana in the coming decade as it pursues building a nuclear plant powered by small modular reactors.
Braun, Purdue lead nuclear summit to promote reactors for Indiana
The Global Nuclear Energy Economic Summit at Purdue University got underway Wednesday with several hundred attendees from energy companies, utilities, academia, government and regulatory agencies.