Bill eases path for utilities to boost rates
An 11-page utility bill in the Indiana Senate that a consumer group likens to “a money grab” would hasten and expand a utility’s ability to recover additional costs from customers.
Chris O'Malley
Articles
Indianapolis airport boardings hit 10-year low
Amid rising ticket prices, passenger boardings fell by 2.2 percent last year, to 3.68 million. That’s a low not seen since 2003, according to airport records.
New Celadon CEO sharpening management
New Celadon Group CEO Paul Will wants to increase productivity at the trucking firm, not just through more sophisticated customer-relationship and tracking software, but also by improving the acumen of the company’s nearly 4,000 employees.
Trafalgar company bringing reflective technology to consumer market
Halo Coatings, founded in 2007, spent its early years licensing its proprietary reflective technology for powder-coating applications to companies involved in highway infrastructure, such as guardrails. But it’s now shifting its focus to the big players in the apparel, medical and consumer-product fields.
Bill could be hurdle for proposed $2.8B synthetic gas plant
Under the legislation, state utility regulators could order Indiana Gasification LLC to make refunds to gas customers every three years if the price of synthetic gas it produces from coal is greater than the market price of natural gas over the period.
Vectren digs in to fight gas plant
A synthetic natural gas plant proposed downstate need only tweak its contract with would-be gas purchaser Indiana Finance Authority to comply with an October court ruling and to proceed with the project, Indiana Gasification said in a recent filing with the Indiana Court of Appeals. But opponents of the plant, led by Evansville-based gas and electric utility Vectren, immediately objected.
New ChaCha unit to pair celebrities, advertisers
The ever-evolving information/answers service ChaCha Search has launched a startup within the 7-year-old company. Social Reactor will match advertisers with participating celebrities and other “social influencers,” who will use social media tools such as Twitter to drive fans to advertisers. Verge founder Matt Hunckler was tapped to get it rolling.
Celadon snaps up two more trucking companies
The Indianapolis-based company's Celadon Trucking Services subsidiary has agreed to acquire Warren-based Rock Leasing Inc. in northeast Indiana and Wadley, Ala.-based Kelly Logistics Inc.
CNO’s Bonach has insurance firm back on offense
CNO Financial Group’s stock price has nearly doubled since Ed Bonach took the helm in October 2011. Some analysts that follow the successor to Conseco Inc., which a decade ago was the nation’s third-largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization, now regard CNO as an attractive value play.
Republic shares hit two-year high on revised outlook
Stock in Republic Airways Holdings rocketed into 2013, closing 19.5 percent higher Wednesday after the Indianapolis-based company raised its quarterly outlook. The shares climbed to a two-year high Thursday morning.
Celadon plans $5.2M driver training center, 182 new jobs
Indianapolis-based trucking carrier Celadon Group Inc. plans to build a $5.25 million driver-training center and add 182 workers to its 633-employee local work force by 2016.
Airport winds down ‘public service officer’ team
The last of what had been about 100 civilians who helped provide security at Indianapolis International Airport after the 2001 terrorist attacks have had their jobs eliminated. Severance agreements were struck with 38 public service officers.
Airport speeds demolition of former passenger terminal
The former passenger terminal and administration building at Indianapolis International Airport could be rubble by this time next year. Offering a “blank slate” should improve marketability of the site, airport officials say.
Legal fight fuels tensions in tight-knit tech world
A trademark-infringement case brought against App Press LLC threatens to smother the tech startup in legal fees before it reaches its potential.
IURC caps ratepayers’ share of Edwardsport plant at $2.6B
Opponents call the deal too generous to Duke Energy and say it doesn’t protect ratepayers from rising financing costs.
Citizens Energy CEO Lykins enjoys big pay boost
Citizens Energy Group—a not-for-profit, public charitable trust—doubled its size last year with its $1.9 billion purchase of the city’s water and sewer utilities last year. It also doubled the pay of CEO Carey Lykins.
Angie’s List alters pay formula for huge sales force
In a move to improve cash flow by an estimated $10 million a year, Angie’s List is changing the way it pays its sales staff. Salespeople compose at least 600 of the more than 1,000 employees at Angie’s, which publishes consumer reviews of plumbers, pet groomers and other service providers.
Tax software upstart proves appeal to major companies
AppealTrack’s simplicity gains attention in growing market for firms managing property tax appeals.
Midwest Energy oil firm drilling for $15M
An Indianapolis investment advisory oil firm has been looking for blowouts in its own back yard. Midwest Energy Partners is preparing for its seventh—and largest—round of funding to pay for oil drilling in southwestern Indiana and southeastern Illinois.
Citizens plans new unit to sell liquefied natural gas
Citizens Energy Group’s multistate transportation and industrial fueling subsidiary would market the gas as an alternative vehicle fuel.