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Bill > SB0234


IN SB0234

IN SB0234
Energy utility matters.


summary

Introduced
01/08/2026
In Committee
01/08/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

Energy utility matters. Provides that any standard tariff offered by an energy utility after March 14, 2026, to a large load customer of the energy utility must include a provision that requires reimbursement by the large load customer of 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. Makes a conforming amendment to the existing statute that allows an energy utility to petition the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) for approval of a project to serve a large load customer. Provides that in a proceeding that is filed with or pending before the IURC after December 31, 2025, for a change in an energy utility's basic rates and charges, the IURC may not issue an order in the proceeding that would result, upon full implementation, in an increase in the energy utility's basic rates and charges, for any customer class, that exceeds 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 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; (utility) to recover through the 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. 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.

AI Summary

This bill mandates that after March 14, 2026, any standard tariff offered by an energy utility to a large load customer (defined as a customer or group of up to four customers requesting significant new or additional electricity demand) must require the customer to reimburse the utility for all project costs reasonably associated with serving them, even if the customer doesn't ultimately use the service as planned. It also makes a conforming change to existing law regarding utility projects for large load customers, ensuring that at least 80% of project costs are covered by the customer. Furthermore, for rate change proceedings filed after December 31, 2025, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) cannot approve rate increases for any customer class that exceed the average monthly percentage increase in U.S. electricity prices over a specified period. The bill also prohibits utilities from recovering certain costs related to lobbying, political activities, charitable giving, and investor relations through customer rates, and requires utilities to file annual reports detailing these expenses, which will be made public on the IURC website. Finally, it urges a legislative committee to study the use of "trackers" (mechanisms allowing utilities to adjust rates for specific expenses outside of regular rate cases) by electric and natural gas utilities.

Committee Categories

Transportation and Infrastructure

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities (on 01/08/2026)

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