Former Indiana utility regulatory commissioner joins Barnes & Thornburg
Former Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Angela Weber has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as counsel for the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department.
Former Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Angela Weber has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP as counsel for the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department.
Although state utility officials started investigating last fall, Sen. Mike Bohacek requested Rokita weigh in after several constituents raised concerns about increases in their energy bills.
Indiana officials on Thursday named nine finalists for three open seats on the powerful Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which oversees electric, gas, water and telecommunications rates across the state.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s nominating committee announced that it will interview 22 people this week for the openings, including one sitting state senator. It will forward a slate of recommendations to Gov. Mike Braun.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor and the Citizens Action Coalition both said a settlement plan over electricity rates between AES Indiana, the city of Indianapolis and numerous large businesses was not acceptable.
The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission decision allowing Duke Energy to raise utility rates on Hoosiers, with the court ruling the utility couldn’t retroactively recover the money it lost due to a federally mandated cleanup of toxic coal ash.
Although Huston’s second term officially ended April 1, he has remained in the role temporarily — and will continue to do so until a successor is appointed.
The state agency tasked with protecting utility consumers has asked regulators to reject Duke Energy Indiana’s “ill-advised” plan to retire two coal-powered units — and replace them with new natural gas units — at the Cayuga Generating Station in west-central Indiana.
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita opined that the IURC is implicitly duty-bound to prevent such closures until a utility finds “dispatchable” replacement power. But the Statehouse, Rokita added, could add legal requirements.
AES Indiana has reached a settlement agreement that would raise monthly rates next year by approximately 7.3% for the average residential customer but would clamp down on the utility’s disconnection practice and offer other consumer protections.
Legal counsel for Duke Energy argued two cases before the Indiana Supreme Court Thursday — from both sides of the courtroom — on separate matters relating to where it maintains its equipment and facilities.
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear arguments in two cases that involve Duke Energy on Thursday, plus another involving the state’s Department of Natural Resources that hasn’t been granted transfer.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s chief of staff will soon leave the agency to lobby for an electric utility group.
Indiana justices granted transfer to two cases for the week ending June 23, including one that involves Duke Energy’s nearly $2 billion economic development plan.
The Indiana Supreme Court has granted transfer to two cases involving Duke Energy, including one in which the company challenged the city of Noblesville’s jurisdiction to regulate its activities.
A Bloomington manufacturer argued before the Indiana Supreme Court on Wednesday that it was unfairly forced to modify building plans for a new warehouse, claiming Duke Energy Indiana took part of its land without compensation.
Duke Energy will be able to proceed with a nearly $2 billion economic development plan after the Court of Appeals of Indiana ruled a regulatory commission’s approval met the requirements of state law.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission shouldn’t have approved Duke Energy’s request to recover costs related to a federal environmental mandate for coal-ash cleanup that were incurred before the energy company received approval.
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Vectren energy, finding it followed state law when it changed its method of determining the credit its customers receive when producing excess solar and wind energy.
The Court of Appeals of Indiana unplugged Duke Energy’s battle with Noblesville, rejecting the company’s arguments that only the IURC has authority over utility matters and finding the electric provider has to comply with the municipality’s ordinances.