Justices to hear oral arguments on Duke Energy rate increases
The Indiana Supreme Court will hear oral arguments next week between Duke Energy and a group of its customers challenging the utility’s request to raise its rates, among other complaints.
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COA: $475k purchase price reasonable for Hamilton County utility acquisition
Two Hamilton County wastewater companies can move forward with their acquisition deal costing the significantly larger entity hundreds of thousands of dollars, the Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed.
AES Indiana sues insurers over coal-ash cleanup liability
AES Indiana is suing more than a dozen insurance companies, claiming they have refused to indemnify and defend the utility for coal-ash environmental cleanup that could exceed $177 million at three generating plants.
Judge rules in utility’s favor in deadly Evansville explosion
A judge has ruled in favor of a utility in a lawsuit filed over a 2017 natural gas explosion in southwestern Indiana that killed two women and injured three other people. A Vanderburgh County judge granted CenterPoint’s motion for summary judgment on Tuesday in the civil lawsuit.
COA affirms for Duke Energy to raise customers’ rates
The utility successfully defended itself from a lawsuit brought by a group of its customers after the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission partially granted the electric giant’s petition to raise its base rates.
COA reverses reopening of dismissed eminent domain action
Homeowners challenging a Lake County public construction project must challenge the project’s impact on their property through a new inverse condemnation action, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled, reversing a ruling allowing the homeowners to reopen a previously dismissed lawsuit.
Divided COA flushes attorney fees, equipment costs in sewer judgment
Northern Indiana property owners were relieved of the bulk of a court order requiring them to pay more than $48,000 to connect to a sewer system, including a ruling on appeal voiding an award of more than $20,000 in attorney fees to the sewer district.
COA majority holds Clark Co. REMC breached insurance contract, but dissent finds ‘logical fallacy’
A local utility breached its contract with its former directors when it revoked their health insurance coverage, a majority of the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. A dissenting judge, however, found that the majority engaged in a “logical fallacy” in holding that the utility was obligated to continue providing coverage to the plaintiffs.
AES Indiana seeks to boost electric vehicle use with incentives that could raise rates
Electric vehicles account for a tiny fraction of the cars on the road today, but electric utility AES Indiana wants to boost that number by offering a raft of rebates and other incentives to customers who drive them.
Number injured after Indianapolis jail power outage rises to 28
Nearly 30 inmates were injured in falls or fights after a power outage plunged a privately operated jail in Indianapolis into darkness and a backup generator failed to kick on, officials said. The total reportedly injured in falls or fights was significantly higher than the initial number reported Monday.
Inmates injured after power outage hits jail in Indianapolis
Nearly a dozen inmates were injured in falls or fights after a power outage plunged a privately operated jail in Indianapolis into darkness early Monday and a backup generator failed to kick on, officials said.
Critics: Indiana panel’s report could lead to coal bailout
A group of state lawmakers and energy experts has approved a new state energy report outlining how Indiana should proceed at a time when electric utilities are seeing a big shift from coal to renewable energy sources.
Fort Wayne water utility to end shutoffs moratorium Monday
The water utility for Indiana’s second-largest city will lift its protections against utility shutoffs next week after Fort Wayne officials said the months-long moratorium had become “unsustainable.”
Indiana scraps plans to buy land for Ohio River port site
Indiana has scrapped plans to buy land at an Ohio River site under consideration for the state’s newest shipping port, Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Thursday.
Merritt resigning after 30 years in state Senate
A longtime Republican state lawmaker who was unsuccessful last year in his bid to become mayor of Indianapolis is stepping down from his seat in November.
IPL to pay $1.5M fine to settle Petersburg pollution issues
Indianapolis Power & Light Co. has agreed to pay about $1.5 million in penalties to settle longstanding pollution issues at its huge Petersburg Generating Station.
NIPSCO fined record $1.1M over safety violations
A northern Indiana utility is facing a $1.1 million fine — the largest in state history — after state regulators cited it for natural gas pipeline safety violations and specified that the company cannot pass that cost onto its ratepayers.
Indiana eviction, utility shutoff moratoriums end next week
Indiana residents who have struggled to pay rent or utility bills during the coronavirus pandemic have one more week before the state’s protections against evictions and utility shutoffs end, despite a recent analysis that found that more than 40% of the state’s renters are unable to pay their rent.
Holcomb extends eviction, foreclosure moratorium until July 31
Gov. Eric Holcomb on Tuesday extended Indiana’s moratorium on housing evictions for one month, through the end of July, continuing a prohibition put in place in March due to financial hardships wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indiana regulators deny utilities’ bid for virus relief
Indiana regulators Monday denied a request from utilities to charge ratepayers for revenue the companies expect to lose because of the coronavirus pandemic. Officials also extended a moratorium on utility service disconnection through mid-August.