A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide detailed information about how utilities will fund customer assistance programs or specify all costs that must be reported annually. Additionally, there is uncertainty regarding the final passage and enactment of the bill.

Indiana Utility Customer Assistance and Reporting Act

This act allows utilities to create programs for helping customers pay their bills, requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission's approval for certain actions by public utilities, and mandates detailed reporting on costs related to specific activities.

What This Bill Does

• Allows electric or gas companies to start programs that help residential customers who qualify with paying their bills.
• Requires the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) to approve before a utility can sell stock, enter into certain contracts, reorganize itself, or take control of another utility.
• Gives local governments and public charities first chance to buy a utility's assets if it wants to sell them.
• Stops utilities from adding costs related to lobbying, political activities, charitable giving, litigation, and investor relations to customer bills.
• Requires utilities to report annually on certain expenses and make these reports available online.
• Makes utilities list each charge or fee separately with a description of what it covers on customer bills starting in 2026.

Who It Names or Affects

• Electric and gas utility companies
• Residential customers who qualify for assistance programs
• The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)
• Local governments and public charities interested in purchasing utilities

Terms To Know

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)

A government agency that oversees the rates, services, and operations of Indiana's utility companies.

Right of first refusal

The legal right to buy something before it is offered to others.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how utilities will fund customer assistance programs.
• Details on what specific costs must be reported annually are not fully outlined in the summary text.
• It's unclear if and when the bill will become law after passing through committees.

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.
Utilities matters.

Current Bill Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Utilities matters.

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.