Indiana lawmakers hopeful about renewable energy bill
Legislation that could bring more wind turbines and solar power projects to the state failed in the last session’s closing
hours.
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Hoosier Energy avoids financial brownout
Hoosier Energy, which supplies electricity to customers in 48 counties in central and southern Indiana, has settled a dispute
that had threatened to plunge the utility into bankruptcy.
Duke Energy wants ratepayers to fund carbon dioxide storage site study
The state’s utility consumer agency is opposing Duke Energy’s request to have customers pay $121 million to
study where to inject underground the carbon dioxide to be produced by its Edwardsport plant.
Advisory panel urges EPA to back plan to pay for green projects via property tax
By issuing “voluntary environmental improvement bonds,”, local and state governments could
create special taxing districts that finance homeowner purchases of everything from solar panels to rain
gardens.
Coal-gasification plant price tag climbs to $2.5 billion
Duke Energy Corp. said the cost of the plant it’s building in southwestern Indiana has risen another $150 million.
Companies reap rewards on irrigation investments
Mike’s Express Carwash uses a lot of water. There’s just no getting around it. So when automated systems engineer
Ryan Binkley looked for ways to conserve resources, he focused on the company’s irrigation systems.
Vectren’s third-quarter profit, revenue dive
Evansville-based energy company Vectren Corp. reported a 47-percent drop in profit for its fiscal third quarter.
Vectren expects lower gas bills for many customers
One of Indiana’s largest natural gas utilities predicts customers’ bills in its largest service territory might be 25 percent
to 30 percent lower this heating season compared to the last one.
Consultant: Indianapolis water utility lax in overseeing Veolia
The city too often relied on the Department of Waterworks’ board, on consultants and on the private
operator, Veolia Water, rather than on the department’s own staff “to ensure safe and efficient
operation, maintenance and management” of Indianapolis Water. That’s one of several critical
findings of a consultant hired by the department and filed as part of a 35-percent rate-hike request
pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
American Water wants to raise rates
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public input on a proposed rate hike by American Water Inc.,
which has 283,000 customers in the state, including in Noblesville and Greenwood.
Insurer fires latest round in $125M utility case
John Hancock Life Insurance Co. today asked a federal judge to force Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative to post an
additional $20 million in escrow as the utility continues to challenge a $125 million claim against it by the New York-based
insurer.
Water utility wants millions for treatment-plant upgrade, dam repair
Already swamped with higher debt costs due to a bond refinancing fiasco, the city’s Department of Waterworks is asking
the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to OK a rate hike to pay for capital projects.
Debate about nuclear power in state returns to legislature
There are no nuclear power plants in Indiana, but lawmakers are expected to wrestle next year with whether to offer an incentive
that could boost prospects for building reactors in the state.
Nucor Steel struggling to strike new power deal with Duke Energy
After two years of fruitless negotiations, the Crawfordsville steel mill has asked the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission
to intervene. More than 700 jobs depend on Nucor and Duke striking a deal.
Veolia appeals regulators’ rate-hike decision
Veolia Water Indianapolis, which manages the city’s water utility, has appealed an order issued by state utility regulators
that limited a major rate increase sought by the city.
Duke considers taking carbon dioxide underground
Duke Energy has proposed spending $121 million to study the feasibility of injecting carbon dioxide deep underground, adding
1 percent to the average ratepayer’s bill between 2010 and 2013.
Bill would let utilities pass on more costs without rate hearings
Utility ratepayer groups say House Bill 1496, which is stuck in committee, is typical of what they see as a disturbing trend:
allowing utilities to pass the cost of mandates directly to consumers. HB 1496 would require Indiana’s coal-reliant electric
utilities to generate at least 10 percent of their power from renewable energy sources like wind and landfill gas.