Braun under fire as watchdog group labels Indiana utility rates a 'crisis of affordability'

INDIANAPOLIS - Citizens Action Coalition is sounding the alarm on Hoosier utility rates as residents across the state continue to report sky-high electric bills.




The Citizens Action Coalition, a consumer advocacy organization, studied data from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and determined that from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, most Hoosiers watched helplessly as their electric bill jumped up nearly $30 a month.




The statewide increase for the past year was 17.5% for utility bills in Indiana. That's more than $28 a month.




"Things keep getting worse for Hoosier consumers and our state leaders continue to allow it to happen," said Kerwin Olson, CAC executive director. "Based on this trend, the rhetoric regarding affordability emanating from the Statehouse appears to be nothing more than lip service. Hoosier consumers can no longer afford monopoly pricing. Something must change, soon."




Northern Indiana residents have been hit the hardest as NIPSCO customers saw their bills increase by an estimated $50 per month in the last year, a 26.7% hike. This follows a previous year-to-year hike of 17.8%.




Duke Energy customers' bills increased 20% in the last year, according to the data. That means customers are shelling out approximately $26 more per month.




Meanwhile, AES Indiana, which services most of Indianapolis, has raised its rates by 12% in the last year. This has cost customers an average of $17 a month. But AES Indiana wants even higher rates, petitioning the IURC for an even more dramatic price increase that would cost customers an additional $21 per month by 2027.

Braun under fire for Hoosier utility crisis

While Hoosiers continue to struggle amid rising costs, the Chair of the Indiana Democratic Party has lambasted Indiana Governor Mike Braun for his inaction on reeling in what the CAC called a "crisis of affordability."




Democratic Chair Karen Tallian accused Braun of campaigning on utility affordability yet claimed the governor has done "absolutely nothing this year to rein in out-of-control electric rate hikes by investor-owned utilities like NIPSCO, AES and CenterPoint."




Tallian pointed out how Braun moved quickly to replace the trustees at Indiana University, but asked, "Why didn't Governor Braun move just as fast to replace all five members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) who keep rubber-stamping these rate hikes?"




"Because he's all talk when it comes to reining in the investor-owned utilities who were big contributors to his 2024 campaign," said Tallian.




Despite Braun promising lower energy costs for Hoosiers during his run for governor, even rightfully pointing out that Hoosiers' electricity bills outpace the national average, the Republican governor has yet to deliver on this campaign promise. Olson and the Citizens Action Coalition also accuse the governor of siding with investor-owned utilities over the interests of Hoosier taxpayers.




Braun recently championed two Senate bills that push for Indiana to become a nuclear leader. He cited "affordability and reliability" as part of his mission to make Indiana a nuclear leader. But critics warn these bills once again put investor-owned utilities' interests before ratepayer affordability.




In an op-ed for the Indiana Business Journal, Olson and the CAC sounded the alarm on Braun's nuclear energy push by pointing out that language in the Senate bills puts taxpayers at financial risk by shifting the cost onto Hoosiers instead of the utility corporations.




"Indiana utilities want us to pay for their nuclear experiments-before a single watt is even produced," Olson wrote. "They want to force ratepayers (who already can't afford their monthly bills) to assume the risks during the planning and construction stages, rather than the utilities' shareholders who stand to profit. Gov. Braun said utilities-not consumers-should bear the risk, then he signed legislation allowing them to bill us for unknown amounts for an unknown period
of time."

How to have your voice heard

While Hoosiers across the state continue to pay more out of pocket for electricity, Indianapolis residents can let their voice be heard about the requested AES price hike.




The IURC will hold a series of public meetings where people can comment on the rate hike. The first is Aug. 18 at the Indianapolis Public Library West Perry Branch.




Other meetings are Aug. 21 at the Southeast Community Services Building on Shelby Street, Aug. 25 at the New Augusta North Public Academy on Rodebaugh Road and Aug. 27 at the Fort Event Center at Fort Harrison State Park.




All the meetings start at 6 p.m.





via: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/braun-under-fire-as-watchdog-group-labels-indiana-utility-rates-a-crisis-of-affordability/