Indiana Natural Gas Corporation Rate Case: Consumer Comments Invited

Local Sources- If you are an Indiana Natural Gas Corporation customer, you are invited to comment on the utility’s proposed rate increase.

The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), the state agency representing consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), is reviewing the utility’s request and is scheduled to file testimony on Aug. 30, 2023. 

While using its legal and technical resources to analyze the request, including examining the utility’s books and operations, the OUCC is inviting written comments from customers through Aug. 23, 2023.

Indiana Natural Gas Corporation is seeking a $1.1 million increase in its annual operating revenues. The utility’s testimony states the increase is necessary to cover higher operating and maintenance costs and pay for infrastructure improvements. The utility provides service to approximately 8,000 customers in Bartholomew, Brown, Crawford, Dubois, Lawrence, Harrison, and Orange counties.

Base distribution rates comprise approximately 38% of a typical residential Indiana Natural Gas customer’s bill. They cover “non-gas” costs such as operating and maintenance expense and capital infrastructure improvements. The remaining 62% of a typical monthly bill pays for the natural gas itself, which the utility recovers on a dollar-for-dollar basis subject to OUCC review and IURC approval every three months.

Indiana Natural Gas Corporation’s current base rates received IURC approval in 2014.

A settlement agreement is possible in any legal proceeding. If an agreement is reached, the settling parties are required to present evidence showing it to be in the public interest. The IURC may approve, deny, or modify any settlement it considers.

Consumers who wish to submit written comments for the case record may do so via the OUCC’s website at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email at [email protected], or by mail at:

Public Comments
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 SOUTH
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The OUCC needs to receive all written consumer comments no later than Aug. 23, 2023, so that it can: 1) Consider them in preparing its testimony and 2) File them with the Commission to be included in the case’s formal evidentiary record. Comments should include the consumer’s name, mailing address, and a reference to either “IURC Cause No. 45889” or Indiana Natural Gas Corporation. Consumers with questions about submitting written comments can contact the OUCC’s consumer services staff toll-free at 1-888-441-2494.

An IURC evidentiary hearing is currently scheduled to start on Oct. 25, 2023. While evidentiary hearings are open to the public, participation is typically limited to attorney and Commission questioning of technical witnesses. A final Commission order is expected in early 2024.

The OUCC is posting case updates online at www.in.gov/oucc/natural-gas/tips-and-publications/natural-gas-cases-of-note/indiana-natural-gas-corp.-rates/. Case updates are also available through the agency’s monthly electronic newsletter. Consumers can subscribe at www.in.gov/oucc/news.