At this writing, Indiana Gov. Mike Pencehas yet to act on a measure to suspend the state energy efficiency program which utility customers can pay into to participate. Pence could sign the bill, veto the bill, or allow it to pass into law without his taking action. A number of environmental and consumer groups have encouraging him to veto the bill, even though it could be overridden; We believe he should veto the measure.
The measure would prohibit the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission from extending or signing new contracts for the program and would prevent the commission from requiring utilities to meet new efficiency goals, reported the Associated Press.
Supporters of the legislation say that under its terms, the commission would complete a report on Energizing Indiana by August, and that would allow the Legislature and Pence to determine whether the program should be continued.
However, to us, the reverse should be true, that suspending the program now, before the completion of a report would pretty much would make it near impossible to restart the program.
Such an examination of Energizing Indiana may be wholly justified, but why not wait for the results, before suspending or ending the program?
As it works, homeowners and businesses pay into the program through their monthly bills, with utilities offering advice on how to trim their utility bills. The idea for the program, started by former Gov. Mitch Daniels and the commission, was for all to achieve energy savings.
However, one leading Republican told Courier & Press staff writer Chelsea Schneider that Energizing Indiana was well-intentioned, but that the cost to run it had become more expensive than originally thought. Schneider reported the program costs an average residential customer of Vectren Corp. approximately $5 to $6 a month, but that the cost is expected to increase. She reported that the bill started out to allow industrial electricity users to opt out of the program, but that the measure was expanded to include all ratepayers. Senate President Pro Tem David Long said the legislation could allow lawmakers to “take it in a better direction, maybe less expensively.
As for Pence, he has said that conservation and promoting energy efficiency are important aspects of the state’s overall energy strategy, but added that Indiana’s competitive edge in terms of costs has lessened in recent years.
However, we remain unconvinced that current circumstances justify shelving the program, for now.
Just this past week, two companies that make energy efficient products joined the effort to encourage Pence to veto the bill. According to the AP, Honeywell and Ingersoll Rand have warned that the bill would undermine important energy-efficiency initiatives that Energizing Indiana has brought to Indiana.
That’s good advice.