New state law prevents city from fining violators of utility reporting ordinance
Under a new state law, Indianapolis will not be allowed to fine building owners for failing to report utility data as part of a sustainability-focused initiative.
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
Braun doubles down on efforts to address ‘imbalanced relationship’ between utilities, ratepayers
Gov. Mike Braun also discussed whether the state will suspend its gas tax as oil prices soar in the wake of U.S. military action in Iran.
Soaring power prices have US politicians searching for solutions
President Trump wants the companies to sign pledges committing to foot the power bill for energy-hungry data centers, which are blamed for driving up electricity costs.
AES Indiana cancels open house, citing social media threats
The Tuesday event, which was canceled an hour before it was set to begin, is one of several public open houses scheduled for this month.
Consortium agrees to buy AES, take the power company private
A consortium led by a BlackRock subsidiary and EQT Infrastructure said AES Indiana and AES Ohio will remain “locally operated and managed regulated utilities.”
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.
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.