FEBRUARY 2019

HE DIDN’T SEE IT!

Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow this weekend, which means he's predicting an early spring. But whether the groundhog is right or wrong, Indiana’s weather in February and March is never boring, and we could always have another cold snap. Resources on the OUCC’s website include tips to prevent frozen pipes in your home, links to the online outage report forms for Indiana’s major electric utilities, FAQs on the state’s winter disconnection moratorium, and more. Stay prepared and bookmark your utility’s outage link on your phone. (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons, Chris Flook)

NIPSCO ELECTRIC RATES IURC public field hearings in the NIPSCO electric rate case were scheduled for the last week of January but were canceled due to hazardous weather in northern Indiana. Information about any new hearing dates will be posted on the OUCC’s website as soon as it is available. Consumers are still invited to send written comments to the OUCC regarding the NIPSCO case. At this point, our staff is scheduled to file testimony on February 13.

INDIANAPOLIS SEWER RATES The OUCC is recommending a $20.3 million reduction to Citizens Energy Group’s proposed sewer rate increase. Citizens’ proposed three-phase increase would raise its sewer utility’s total annual operating revenues by $65.5 million, approximately 24.7 percent more than current sewer revenues. In testimony filed in late January, the OUCC has recommended a smaller increase still providing the utility with necessary revenues for infrastructure projects that are required under a federal consent decree. Additional OUCC recommendations include capping the monthly residential sewer base charge at its current amount and allowing summer sewer charges to be based either on the customer's actual water consumption or average winter consumption, whichever is lower. An IURC order is expected later this year.

MORE CASE UPDATES

• A settlement agreement in the Fort Wayne water rate case is now pending before the IURC. All of the case’s formal parties – the OUCC, City of Fort Wayne, City of New Haven, and General Motors – have signed on to the agreement.
• The OUCC and a wide range of additional parties have filed closing arguments on Vectren’s electric generation transition plan.
• The evidentiary hearing on Indiana American Water Company’s (IAWC’s) rate request is set to begin February 14 and may continue through February 27. A Commission order is expected later this year.
• Several pending rate cases are in their final stages with orders expected in the coming weeks. They include requests from the Jackson County Water Utility, Floyds Knobs Water Company, Southern Monroe Water Authority, Switzerland County Natural Gas Company, and Sycamore Gas Company.

OUR MISSION

To represent all Indiana consumers to ensure quality, reliable utility services at the most reasonable prices possible through dedicated advocacy, consumer education, and creative problem solving.

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