The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is asking the state to reduce a utility's rates rather than allow another rate hike as public uproar mounts over rising utility bills.
The OUCC is asking state regulators to reject the $192.9 million rate increase AES Indiana is seeking in Indianapolis. It instead is asking for a $21.2 million reduction to the utility's current base rates.
“AES Indiana has not demonstrated sufficient evidence for an increase in this rate case, which it filed less than 14 months after receiving commission approval in its last rate case. My team is recommending additional reductions that would reduce the utility’s current rates and help lessen the burden on ratepayers,” said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Abby Gray. “We received thousands of consumer comments in this case, highlighting serious hardships many customers are facing, and I want to thank the individuals who took time to submit comments either in writing or at the IURC’s public hearings.”
Kerwin Olson, the executive director of the consumer group the Citizens Action Coalition, said it was not the first time the OUCC recommended a reduction but could signal a more concerted effort to keep utility bills affordable for Hoosiers.
"They usually come strong out of the gate in a rate case, but not always," he said. "There’s a long way to go in the case, but we’re hopeful that their testimony, our testimony, the enormous public outcry and substantial public comments filed, and the strong words of the governor produce a meaningful outcome in the case."
OUCC spokesperson Olivia Rivera said the office would continue to apply scrutiny to future rate hike requests.
"Our lawyers and technical experts closely scrutinize every rate request before the commission and will continue to do so in future cases," she said. "I can’t speculate on what utilities may ask for in future cases and when they may file them. But again, we will closely examine any future requests."
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