SB153 • 2026

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

Energy

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Senator La Keisha Jackson
Last action: 2026-01-05
Official status: Introduced Senate Bill (S)
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide details about the specific data required for reporting, leaving this aspect uncertain.

Utility Disconnection Rules and Reporting

This bill changes Indiana law to prevent utility companies from disconnecting service during certain times of the year, on specific days, or under particular conditions for customers who are eligible for home energy assistance. It also requires utilities to report data about customer accounts to a regulatory commission.

What This Bill Does

Prevents electric and gas utilities from cutting off residential services between June 21 and September 23 if the customer is applying for help through a government program.
Stops utilities from disconnecting service on weekends, holidays, or days when customer service isn't available during regular hours.
Removes rules that allowed utilities to charge interest on unpaid bills.
Forbids utilities from asking customers to pay deposits or fees before reconnecting their services after a disconnection for nonpayment.
Requires utility companies to update their policies and tariffs by June 15, 2026, to follow these new rules.

Who It Names or Affects

Electric and gas utilities in Indiana
Residential customers who are eligible for home energy assistance programs

Terms To Know

IURC: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, which oversees utility companies.
Tariffs: Rules and fees set by a company for its services.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if utilities do not follow these rules.
It is unclear how the IURC will enforce compliance with the new requirements.
Details about the specific data that must be reported by utility companies are not provided.

Bill History

2026-01-05 Senate
Authored by Senator Jackson L
2026-01-05 Senate
First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities

Official Summary Text

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.
Utility disconnections and customer data reports.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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

Utility disconnections and customer data reports.

Provides that beginning January 1, 2027, an electric or gas utility may not, from June 21 through September 23 (in addition to the period from December 1 through March 15, under current law), terminate 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 terminating service for any residential customer on any of the following days: (1) A Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. (2) A legal holiday. (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 the IURC to amend, not later than December 31, 2026, its administrative rules as necessary to conform the rules to these provisions. Requires a utility to: (1) amend its residential tariffs as necessary to bring the tariffs into conformance with these provisions; and (2) file with the IURC a petition for approval of each amended tariff; not later than June 15, 2026. Requires a utility that: (1) is under the jurisdiction of the IURC for the approval of rates and charges; and (2) provides residential electric, natural gas, water, or wastewater utility service at retail to customers and low income customers in Indiana; 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: (1) a utility shall report all required information in the aggregate and in a manner that does not identify individual customers and low income customers; and (2) the IURC may not require utilities to disclose confidential and proprietary business information without adequate protection of the information. Requires the IURC to adopt rules to implement these provisions. 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.