FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Regulators with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor are taking public comment through November 8th on the rate hike request from Indiana Michigan Power.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will also hold public hearings in Fort Wayne and South Bend next month on the proposal. Residential service charges would rise from $14 to $17.50. The base rate would also go up.
I&M says the proposed increase would raise bills by just under $15 a month once fully in effect in January 2025.
The following was issued by the OUCC:
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is inviting public comments on Indiana Michigan Power’s (I&M’s) pending rate request through Nov. 8, 2023.
In addition, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will hold public field hearings in the case in Fort Wayne and South Bend in October.
The OUCC – the state agency representing consumer interests in cases before the IURC – is using its technical and legal resources to review I&M’s proposal. Formal testimony from the OUCC is due Nov. 15, 2023.
Written Consumer Comments
Consumers who wish to submit written comments for the case record may do so via the OUCC’s website at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email at uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov, or by mail at:
Public CommentsIndiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 SOUTHIndianapolis, IN 46204
The OUCC needs to receive all written consumer comments no later than Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, so that it can: 1) Consider comments in preparing its testimony and 2) File them with the Commission to be included in the case’s formal evidentiary record. Comments should include the consumer’s name and a reference to either “IURC Cause No. 45933” or Indiana Michigan Power rates. Consumers with questions about submitting written comments can contact the OUCC’s consumer services staff toll-free at 1-888-441-2494.
Public Field Hearings
The IURC has scheduled two public field hearings in this case:
- Monday, Oct. 16, 2023: Purdue University Fort Wayne, Walb Student Union Classic Ballroom, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.
- Monday, Oct. 30, 2023: South Bend Century Center Recital Hall, 120 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Each hearing will begin at 6:00 p.m. Consumers are encouraged to arrive by 5:45 p.m. for an overview of field hearing procedures and the rate case process. Attendees are required to comply with all local health and safety regulations. No final decisions about the case will be made at the hearings.
The sole purpose of a field hearing is to receive public testimony. A final decision is expected next year.
- Consumers can speak directly to the Commission under oath and on the record.
- Oral comments presented during the field hearings will become part of the case record. They will carry the same weight as written consumer comments submitted to the OUCC by Nov. 8, 2023.
- Utilities do not make presentations or answer questions during field hearings. The focus, again, is on public input. In this case, I&M filed testimony and exhibits in August 2023.
- Commissioners are not allowed to answer questions about the case. They will ultimately render a decision after weighing evidence from the utility, the OUCC, and intervening parties. OUCC staff will be available to answer questions at the hearings.
Case Overview
I&M is seeking a two-phase increase that would raise annual revenues by $116.4 million. Residential monthly service charges would rise from $14.79 to $17.50. The volumetric part of each customer’s base rate would also increase. According to I&M’s testimony and exhibits, the proposal would raise a monthly 1,000-kilowatt hour (kWh) residential bill by $14.83 once the increase fully takes effect in January 2025.
In its testimony, the utility states it is seeking the increase due to higher operating and maintenance expenses, as well as infrastructure improvements. Specific projects include replacement of I&M’s customer information system, completion of advanced meter deployments, and studies for the possible extension of the Cook Nuclear Plant operating license.
I&M serves more than 482,000 electric customers in northern and east-central Indiana. Its current base rates received IURC approval in 2022.
Additional parties that have intervened in this case include the City of Auburn, Wabash Valley Power Alliance, the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, Wal-Mart, Steel Dynamics, Inc., and additional industrial customers including Air Products and Chemical, Cleveland-Cliffs, General Motors, Linde, Marathon Petroleum Company, Metal Technologies Auburn, Messer, and the University of Notre Dame.
A settlement agreement is possible in any legal proceeding. If an agreement is reached, the settling parties are required to present evidence showing it to be in the public interest. The IURC may approve, deny, or modify any settlement it considers.
The OUCC is posting case updates online at https://www.in.gov/oucc/featured-topics/indiana-michigan-power-i-and-m-rates/indiana-michigan-power-2023-rate-case/. Case updates are also available through the agency’s monthly electronic newsletter. Consumers can subscribe at www.in.gov/oucc/news.
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