Updated 1/26/2026 ~ 2026 Indiana General Assembly

Bad Bills ~ Good Bills ~ Bills we're watching

 

Bad Bills

 

SB258: Nuclear Facility Permits

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Votes: 

• 1/15/26: The Senate Utilities Committee passed SB258 by a vote of 7-3.
• 1/22/26: The Senate passed SB258 by a vote of 36-9.

Description:

SB258 and SB277 will make it harder for Hoosiers to be informed and engaged when nuclear power plants want to locate in their communities. 

The bills do this by taking away the authority of the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to conduct public hearings about the environmental effects of the operations of proposed nuclear reactors. SBs 258 & 277 also reduce state oversight of nuclear facilities by removing the current authority of IDEM to adopt rules and standards to protect Hoosier communities and residents from the hazards of radiation, and to issue permits related to those rules and standards. 

Making it harder for the public to be informed and engaged about nuclear projects slated for their communities is the wrong direction for Indiana, especially right now. State politicians have spent the past few years paving the way for risky and expensive Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) by passing a series of bills aimed to help companies overcome the serious technological challenges facing SMRs that have resulted in no company figuring out how to successfully build and operate an SMR in the United States. 

Reducing the state’s ability to regulate nuclear power plants and radioactive waste at the same time politicians want to increase nuclear power generation puts Hoosier communities at risk.

 

HB1276: Competitive Electric Generation Service

Authors: Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R), Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description:

The bill will deregulate Indiana’s electricity markets and allow all electric customers to choose an alternative energy supplier for their electricity. However, customers who choose to switch providers will still pay their existing monopoly utility for use of their distribution system, customer service, and other significant monthly charges. Additionally, customers who switch providers will also no longer have the protection of state regulators, losing the ability to file complaints at the IURC and OUCC. CAC opposes deregulation as it exposes consumers to deceptive marketing practices and higher prices, while depriving consumers of the protections of state regulators.

 

 

SB54: Zoning Overlay Districts for Solar Projects

Authors:  Sen. Liz Brown (R),  Sen. Gary Byrne (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description:

The bill is designed to obstruct, if not stop, commercial-scale solar energy systems being installed in Indiana by putting in place restrictive zoning requirements.

  

SB272: Competitive Electric Supply Service

Authors: Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC opposes this bill

Description:

The bill will allow only large users of electricity to purchase their energy from someone other than their monopoly utility. The bill will shift significant costs onto residential and small business customers and raise the monthly bills of every consumer other than the large users who choose an alternative supplier. 

 

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Good Bills

 

HB1002: Electric Utility Affordability

Authors: Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler (R), Rep. Edmond Soliday (R), Rep. Jim Pressel (R), Rep. Alex Burton (D)

Status: in the House

Position: CAC supports this bill in its current form, although there is still room for improvement

News:

• Indiana House committee hears bill aimed at electric bill affordability, Chicago Tribune 1/13/26

• Indiana House committee hears bills on making housing and electricity more affordable, WTHR 1/13/26

Votes:

• 1/20/26: The House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee amended HB1002 twice by consent, and failed a third amendment by a vote of 4-8. They also passed a motion by consent, then passed HB1002 out of committee by a vote of 13-0.

Description:

HB1002 is a priority bill for the House Republicans. The bill is intended to address the affordability crisis facing Hoosier consumers through many measures, which include six main provisions:

• Reforming the rate case process before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) by requiring that the electric utilities file three year “Multi Year Rate Plans,” or MYRP. CAC had many concerns about the MYRP provisions in the introduced version of the bill. However, our concerns were addressed in a House Utilities Committee amendment offered by Rep. Shonkwiler and adopted by the committee. 

• Holding the utilities accountable through Performance Based Ratemaking, or PBR. The bill includes several Performance Incentive Mechanisms, or PIMS, that are designed to reward or penalize the utilities based on the utilities performance around affordability and reliability. If the utilities achieve their PIMS, the IURC may reward the utilities with a small increase in their profit. If they miss their PIMS, the IURC may penalize the utilities with a small decrease in their profit. 

• Mandating that all ratepayers be placed on “levelized billing” beginning July 1st, with an option for ratepayers to opt-out without penalty. Levelized billing is currently referred to as “budget billing.” However, concerns were expressed that “budget” is misleading and implies a discount is being applied, which is not true. Therefore, a committee amendment was adopted stating that the utilities shall not use the term “budget billing” unless additional assistance or discounts are being provided. While there is an opt-out included in the bill, CAC does not support this mandate and will continue working to get this removed from the bill. Forcing ratepayers on this billing scheme will not make monthly bills more affordable. This idea conflates affordability with stability. 

• Requiring the utilities to report customer data to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) on a quarterly basis.This data includes items like customer arrears, number of disconnects, number of disconnect notices, and so forth. CAC has been working on this issue for decades. It is critical that we have the data necessary to inform public policy on the affordability of electric bills. This has been a long time coming and we are thrilled that this provision has been added to the bill. 

• Mandating that the electric utilities provide assistance to low-income qualified households. Another issue that CAC has been diligently working on for decades. It is a moral imperative that the State of Indiana provide desperately needed help to vulnerable households who are struggling to make ends meet. The bill currently leaves the design of these programs up to each individual utility. CAC strongly believes that the IURC, in concert with stakeholders, should take the lead on designing the programs, the inclusion of this measure is a big win. CAC will continue to work to improve the language currently in the bill, but will continue to strongly support this mandate. 

• A summer disconnection moratorium for low-income qualified households. Indiana currently has a winter disconnect moratorium. CAC and others have attempted to put a similar summer moratorium in place for years. The bill as introduced would have instituted a moratorium, but only when an “extreme heat warning” was issued by the National Weather Service. The House Utilities Committee amended it to a moratorium on electric disconnects for low-income households from June 1st through September 23rd. The House then adopted an amendment on second reading changing it to a temperature-based moratorium. We greatly prefer a month-based moratorium which would be consistent with our winter moratorium, and will continue working to improve this language.

 

 

SB6: Extension of Water Services

Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Dan Dernulc, Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R), Sen. J.D. Ford (D)

Sponsors: Rep. Harold Slager (R), Rep. Julie Olthoff (R), Rep. Mike Aylesworth (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes: 

•  1/08/26: The Senate Local Government Committee amended SB6 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 8-0.
• 1/12/26: The Senate amended SB6 by voice vote.
• 1/13/26: The Senate passed SB6 by a vote of 49-0.

Description:

Provides that a public utility must provide notice to the public, affected landowners, the county plan commission, and on the public utility's web site, if any, before it condemns land for the purpose of extending a water or wastewater main. Provides that, under certain circumstances, an affected county must publish notice of the condemnation on its website. Requires a public utility to schedule a meeting with a landowner or interested party not later than 30 days after receiving a request for a meeting. 

 

 

SB240: Surplus Interconnection Service

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Stacey Donato (R), Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Jean Leising (R), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes: 

• 1/15/26: The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB240 by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 10-0.
• 1/22/26: The Senate passed SB240 by a vote of 44-1.

Description: 

The bill requires that during the Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process, the utilities evaluate the availability of unused capacity on the transmission grid that may be utilized to bring new resources online more efficiently and quickly to meet energy demand. The idea is to speed up the interconnection process and potentially save consumers money. 

 

 

SB241: Utility Service Enhancement Improvement Costs

Authors: Sen. Eric Koch (R), Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. Blake Doriot (R), Sen. Randy Maxwell (R)

Sponsors: Rep. Edmond Soliday (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Votes: 

• 1/15/26:  The Senate Utilities Committee amended SB241 three times by consent, then passed it out of committee by a vote of 10-0.
• 1/22/26: The Senate passed SB241 by a vote of 42-2.

Description:

The bill allows water and wastewater utilities to avoid filing a rate case in order to adjust rates when the costs of power or chemicals used to treat wastewater go up or down more than 3%. The bill requires the utility to file on an annual basis to ensure that when those specified costs go down, rates charged consumers will also go down. 

 

HB1068: Retention of IURC Commissioners

Authors: : Rep. Chuck Moseley (D), Rep. Mike Andrade (D)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: 

Provides that commissioners of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) must be elected by voters at a general election. 

 

 

HB1084: Plug-In Solar Power Systems

Authors: Rep. Carey Hamilton (D), Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D), Rep. Jim Pressel (R), Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Defines a "plug-in solar power system" as a moveable photovoltaic generation device that: (1) has a maximum power output of not more than 1,200 watts; (2) is designed to be connected to a building's electrical system through a standard outlet; and (3) is intended primarily to offset part of the electricity consumption in the building in which it is used.

• Provides that electricity generated by a plug-in solar power system is not subject to the Indiana statute concerning distributed generation.

• Provides that a plug-in solar power system is exempt from the Indiana utility regulatory commission's rules concerning customer-generator interconnection standards.

• Requires a plug-in solar power system to include a feature that disconnects it from a building in the event of a power outage.

• Prohibits an electricity supplier from requiring a customer to (1) get approval for installation or use, (2) pay any fee or charge related to the installation or use, or (3) install any additional controls or equipment in connection with the installation or use.

• Provides that an electricity supplier is not liable for any injury or damages caused by a customer's installation or use of a plug-in solar power system. 

 

HB1111: Various Utility Matters

Authors: Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Prohibits a utility from charging a customer a reconnection fee after getting disconnected.

• Provides that an electric or gas utility may not disconnect residential electric or gas customers between June 21 and September 23 for residential customers whose residence includes a person who is: (1) 65 years of age or older; or (2) 16 years of age or younger.

• Requires an electric or gas utility to identify new residential customers who are 62 years of age or older and to provide the identified customers with information concerning relevant assistance programs for seniors.

• Requires a public utility to provide a residential customer with a bill credit for an electric service interruption.

 

 

HB1186: Restrictions on the Sale of Public Utilities

Authors: Rep. Becky Cash (R), Rep. Kendell Culp (R), Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R), Rep. Alex Zimmerman (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Prohibits a public utility from: (1) selling, assigning, transferring, leasing, or encumbering its franchise, business, or property; or (2) selling, assigning, or transferring any shares of its stock; to a prohibited person. Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission may not approve such a transaction, and that any contract for such a transaction is void. Provides that for purposes of this prohibition, a "prohibited person" means either of the following: (1) A private equity firm or an affiliate of a private equity firm. (2) A citizen of, or a company owned or controlled by or headquartered in, China, Iran, North Korea, Russia, or a country designated as a threat to critical infrastructure by the governor. 

 

 

HB1213: Elimination of Sales Tax on Household Utility Use

Authors: Rep. Justin Moed (D)

Status: in the House Ways and Means Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description: 

Provides that a power subsidiary or a person engaged as a public utility is not a retail merchant making a retail transaction when the subsidiary or person furnishes or sells electrical energy, natural or artificial gas, water, steam, or steam heating service to a person for domestic consumption. 

 

 

HB1317: IURC and Utility Audits

Authors: Rep. John Bartlett (D), Rep. Alex Burton (D)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Provides that every three years, beginning in 2026, the state board of accounts shall conduct an audit of the funds, accounts, financial affairs, and all compliance related matters of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to be distributed to members of the general assembly.

• Provides that the IURC: (1) may, with good cause, conduct a forensic audit of a public utility; and (2) shall conduct a forensic audit of the public utility as part of base rate cases.

• Authorizes the IURC to appoint: (1) an independent accounting firm; or (2) another qualified agent; with experience or expertise in conducting forensic audits to conduct a forensic audit under these provisions.

• Specifies the scope of a forensic audit under these provisions.

• Provides that upon the completion of a forensic audit, the IURC may: (1) Issue an order directing the public utility to take actions to correct issues found as part of the audit. (2) Refer any suspected criminal activities uncovered during the audit to appropriate law enforcement prosecutorial agencies or officials.

• Specifies how expenses incurred by the IURC or the IURC's agent in conducting a forensic audit under this section shall be charged and paid.

 

 

HB1340: Sales Tax Exemption for Utility Service

Authors: Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D)

Status: in the House Ways and Means Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides a sales tax exemption for the sale or furnishing of the following services or commodities by a power subsidiary or a person engaged as a public utility to a person for commercial or domestic consumption: (1) Electrical energy. (2) Natural or artificial gas. (3) Water. (4) Steam. (5) Steam heating service. Makes conforming amendments. 

 

 

HB1341: Eminent Domain

Authors: Rep. Tim Yocum (R), Rep. Lorissa Sweet (R)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Eliminates eminent domain authority for the following purposes: (1) Acquiring a right-of-way for the construction or operation of a pipeline for transporting carbon dioxide or other carbon oxides. (2) Acquiring underground strata for a well or monitoring facility for underground storage of carbon dioxide or other carbon oxides. (3) A carbon sequestration pilot project or other underground carbon dioxide or other carbon oxides storage project. 

 

 

HB1433: Election of IURC Commissioners

Authors: Rep. Justin Moed (D)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides for nonpartisan election of the five members of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) beginning with the 2026 general election. Provides that a candidate for election to the IURC: (1) must have resided in Indiana for at least one year before the election; and (2) may not have any official or professional relationship or connection with, hold any stock or securities in, or have any pecuniary interest in a utility or a person with an interest in a utility. Provides that a: (1) candidate for election as a member of the IURC; or (2) candidate's committee of a candidate for election as a member of the IURC; may not solicit or accept a contribution from a utility, or from a person with an interest in a utility, for the duration of the candidate's candidacy for election as a member of the IURC. 

 

 

HB1434: Utility Votes at RTO Meetings

Authors: Rep. Sue Errington (D)

Status: in the House Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications Committee

Position:  CAC supports this bill

Description:

Beginning in 2027, requires certain public utilities that provide electric utility service to file with the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) an annual report that: (1) lists, or otherwise provides access to information on, each recorded vote cast by the public utility, and any affiliate of the public utility, at a meeting of the PJM Interconnection, LLC regional transmission organization (RTO), regardless of whether the vote is disclosed by the RTO; and (2) includes a brief description explaining how each vote identified supports the provision of electric utility service with the attributes set forth in Indiana's state energy policy. Requires the IURC to post on the IURC's website the reports received under the bill's provisions. Note: the other RTO serving Indiana is MISO, the Midwest Independent System Operator. MISO's votes are already public, which is why this bill is specifici to PJM.

 

 

SB7: Carbon Sequestration

Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R),  Sen. Spencer Deery (R) 

Status: in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides that a storage operator may not operate a carbon sequestration project that transports or stores carbon dioxide outside the county where the carbon dioxide is generated unless the project is approved by the appropriate county legislative body or plan commission.

 

 

SB74: Plug-in Home Solar Units

Authors: Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D), Sen. Blake Doriot (R),  Sen. Kyle Walker (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides that electricity generated by a plug-in home solar unit is exempt from Indiana law regarding distributed generation. Prohibits an electricity supplier from requiring a customer to: (1) obtain the electricity supplier's approval before installing or using; (2) pay any fee or charge related to the customer's use of; (3) make modifications to; or (4) install additional equipment as a result of the customer's installation or use of; a plug-in home solar unit that meets specified requirements. Requires a plug-in home solar unit to incorporate functionality that, in the event of a power outage, disconnects the plug-in home solar unit from the electrical system of the building to which the plug-in home solar unit is connected. Provides that an electricity supplier is not liable for any injury or damages caused to a customer by a plug-in home solar unit.

 

 

SB83: Various Utility Matters

Authors: Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Removes sales tax from utility bills.

• Repeals the sales tax exemption for quantum computing and certain data centers.

• Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) may not issue a final order in an electric base rate case that would cause the average residential bill to increase by 3% or greater.

• Authorizes municipalities to purchase utility infrastructure for the purpose of providing utility service within the municipality.

• Institutes a rate freeze for regulated electric utilities until July 1, 2028.

• Prevents municipalities from making profit on utility service. 

 

 

SB146: Electric Utility Affordability; TDSIC Plans

Authors: Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R), Sen. Dan Dernulc (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides that affordability is the most important attribute of electric utility service that must be considered in decisions concerning Indiana's electric generation resource mix, energy infrastructure, and electric service ratemaking constructs.

Provides the following with regard to a public electric or gas utility's transmission, distribution, and storage system improvement charge (TDSIC) plan:

• The public utility's petition for Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) approval of the TDSIC plan must include an executive summary that provides specified information.

• The public utility and the IURC shall publish the TDSIC plan, and each annual update to the TDSIC plan, on the public utility's and IURC's respective websites.

• The public utility shall recover the deferred 20% of the public utility's approved capital expenditures and TDSIC costs under the TDSIC plan only upon the public utility's completion of the eligible transmission, distribution, and storage system improvements included in the TDSIC plan.

  

 

SB152: Utilities Matters

Authors: Sen. Andrea Hunley (D), Sen. J.D. Ford (D), Sen. Mark Spencer (D)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Allows an electric or gas utility to establish a customer assistance program for qualified residential customers.

• Requires the approval of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) before a public utility may sell stock, enter into certain contracts, effect a reorganization, or acquire control of another public utility.

• Provides that if a public utility requests IURC approval of the sale, assignment, or transfer of the public utility's franchise, works, or system, the IURC shall grant a right of first refusal to: (1) a municipality in which the public utility's works or system is located; or (2) a public charitable trust; for the purchase or acquisition of the public utility's franchise, works, or system.

• Provides that the IURC may not authorize a public utility that: (1) provides retail electric or natural gas service; and (2) is under the IURC's jurisdiction for the approval of rates and charges (energy utility); to recover through the energy utility's retail rates and charges any direct or indirect costs associated with specified expenses and activities related to lobbying, legislative action, political activities, charitable giving, litigation, investor relations, and other specified activities and expenses.

• Requires an energy utility, beginning in 2026, to file with the IURC an annual report that includes specified information concerning costs to: (1) the energy utility; or (2) an affiliate of the energy utility; that are related to these expenses or activities and that are directly billed or allocated to the energy utility.

• Requires the IURC to make available on the IURC's website a direct link to the annual reports provided by all energy utilities under these provisions.

• Provides that on any customer bill issued by an energy utility after December 31, 2026, the energy utility must include a break down of the charges and fees that make up the total amount owed, including a description of the service or cost associated with each charge or fee. Sets forth certain charges and fees that must be delineated as specific line items on each customer bill. 

 

 

SB153: Utility Disconnections and Customer Data Reports

Authors: Sen. La Keisha Jackson (D)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Creates a summer disconnect moratorium from June 21 through September 23 for residential electric or gas service for an individual who is eligible for and has applied for assistance from a home energy assistance program administered by the lieutenant governor.

• Prohibits an electric, gas, or water utility from disconnecting residential customers on (1) Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, (2) legal holidays, or (3) any day, or after noon on the day preceding any day, during which customer service representatives of the utility are not available to respond to customer inquiries during regular business hours.

• Repeals a provision that authorizes the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to establish a reasonable rate of interest that a utility may charge on the unpaid balance of a delinquent customer bill.

• Prohibits an electric, gas, or water utility from charging or collecting a deposit or reconnection fee as a condition of, or in connection with, restoring service to a residential customer after a termination of service for nonpayment.

• Requires regulated utilities to report to the IURC on a quarterly basis certain data concerning customer accounts and low income customer accounts.

• Provides that the first reports submitted to the IURC must include the required information with respect to the third calendar quarter of 2026.

• Provides that, beginning in 2027, the IURC shall annually compile and summarize the information received from utilities for the previous calendar year and include the summary in the IURC's annual report.

 

  

SB184: Sales Tax on Utility Service

Authors: Sen. Michael Young (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Phases down in equal reductions over four years the state gross retail tax rate imposed on the sale of the following utility services to a person for domestic consumption: (1) Electrical energy. (2) Natural or artificial gas. (3) Water. (4) Steam. (5) Steam heating service. 

 

 

SB196: Community Energy Facilities

Authors: Sen. Greg Walker (D)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Requires regulated electric utilities to allow community energy facilities to connect to the electric grid as long as they have at least three subscribers. 

• Requires the electric utility to credit the subscribing customers for the amount of electricity from the community energy facility to which the customer subscribes.

• Requires the IURC to create a working group to assess and make recommendations regarding creation, revision, or elimination of policies, processes, tariffs, rules, or standards relating to the interconnection of community energy facilities, and to implement the recommendations.

• Prohibits an investor owned utility from: (1) owning a community energy facility; or (2) offering incentive programs to community energy facilities. 

 

 

SB234: Energy Utility Matters

Authors: Sen. Vaneta Becker (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Provides that any standard tariff offered by an energy utility to a large load customer must include a provision that requires large load customer to pay for all project costs reasonably allocable to the large load customer, regardless of whether the large load customer ultimately takes service in any anticipated amount and within any anticipated time frame.

• Provides that the IURC is not allowed to approve a rate hike that would cause average rates to increase beyond the average monthly percentage increase in seasonally adjusted electricity prices for the United States over the course of a specified period that ends with the last month of the energy utility's 12 month test period used in the proceeding.

• Provides that the IURC may not allow utilities to charge ratepayers for costs associated with lobbying, legislative action, political activities, charitable giving, litigation, investor relations, and other specified activities and expenses.

• Beginning in 2026, requires a utility to file with the IURC an annual report that includes specified information concerning costs to: (1) the utility; or (2) an affiliate of the utility; that are related to these expenses or activities and that are directly billed or allocated to the utility.

• Requires the IURC to make available on the IURC's website a direct link to the annual reports provided by all utilities under these provisions.

• Urges the legislative council to assign to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and telecommunications the task of studying, during the 2026 legislative interim, the use of trackers by public utilities providing electric or natural gas service. 

 

 

SB257: Electricity Rate Increases Due to Data Centers

Authors: Sen. Chris Garten (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides that the Indiana utility regulatory commission may not approve an increase in the rates and charges of an electric utility to the extent the increase is related solely to the electric utility's cost of providing electric utility service to: (1) a data center; or (2) a new or existing facility: (A) the electricity demand of which exceeds or will exceed a specified amount; and (B) that employs or will employ fewer than 50 full-time employees on the premises of the facility. 

 

 

SB260: Carbon Dioxide

Authors: Sen. Spencer Deery (R), Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

• Specifies that an application for a carbon dioxide transmission pipeline certificate of authority must include: (1) a risk assessment; and (2) a carbon dioxide injection estimate.

• Provides that when determining compensation in certain eminent domain proceedings, the perceived risk of certain hazardous conditions must be taken into account.

• Establishes a carbon sequestration pilot project fee program, and specifies certain conditions in relation to the fee money.

• Provides that a transfer of ownership in regard to a carbon sequestration pilot project does not relieve a prior operator from liability for any negligence or willful misconduct that occurred before the transfer.

• Requires the department of natural resources to inspect a carbon sequestration pilot project. Alters the threshold of consent one must obtain in order to use eminent domain or integration in relation to carbon sequestration.

 

  

SB266: Base Rate Cases for Electricity Suppliers

Authors: Sen. Rodney Pol (D)

Status: in the Senate Utilities Committee

Position: CAC supports this bill

Description:

Provides that in a base rate case, the IURC shall do the following:

(1) Consider whether the requested increase would result, upon full implementation, in an average monthly residential bill that would represent more than 6% of a representative low income customer's monthly income.

(2) Consider and compare the following:

(A) The total amount of the electricity supplier's actual return that was distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends, or reinvested by the electricity supplier in its own stock, during the period extending back to the IURC's last order approving the electricity supplier's basic rates and charges (relevant period).

(B) The sum of the total amount of the electricity supplier's actual return for the relevant period that was invested in infrastructure or improvements to the electricity supplier's system, plus the amount of capital investments that are associated with a set of discrete and identifiable capital spending projects that will be placed in service within a reasonable time after the end of the electricity supplier's 12 month test period in the proceeding.

(3) Hold at least two public hearings in the electricity supplier's service area.

Provides that in the IURC's final order in the proceeding, the IURC shall include: (1) the IURC's findings with respect to the considerations required under the bill; and (2) a discussion of how the IURC took those findings into account in reaching the decisions set forth in the order. 

 

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Watching

HB1041: Line Maintenance In Public Rights-Of-Way

HB1042: Regulation And Investment Of Cryptocurrency

HB1120: Retirement Of Electric Generation Resources

HB1247: Underground Utility Facilities

HB1333: Land Use And Development

SB114: Election Of Iurc Commissioners

SB168: Electric Generation Asset Reports

SB187: Regional Sewer Districts

SB206: Protection Of Underground Facilities

SB35: Vehicle Bill

SB93: Vehicle Bill