Gov. Mike Braun replaces chairman of Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is making a leadership change at the state agency responsible for approving utility rates.

Braun announced Monday that Anthony Swinger is now chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), replacing Andy Zay.

Swinger was appointed to the IURC in January 2026. He previously spent more than 25 years with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), the state agency that advocates for utility customers in rate cases.

Zay had also been appointed to the commission in January. Braun did not say what Zay's future is with the IURC.

The move comes after the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor recently accused Duke Energy of collecting nearly $90 million more from customers than state regulators approved.

In a June 4 filing, the agency argued the extra revenue was not authorized in Duke Energy Indiana’s 2025 rate order. The OUCC also said Zay and the commission’s chief administrative law judge wrongly allowed Duke to continue collecting the money.

The filing argued that decision "erroneously allows Duke to recover over $86.5 million more annually at ratepayers’ expense."

In a separate May 27 filing, Zay and Chief Administrative Law Judge Loraine Seyfried said Duke was complying with the commission’s rate order and argued the OUCC’s claims lacked merit.

They said the approved rates were "subject to refinement," meaning adjustments were still allowed.

The Citizens Action Coalition (CAC) and the OUCC, along with several other ratepayer advocacy groups, are appealing Zay's findings. That appeal process could take several months.

Meanwhile, the IURC also recently approved a rate increase for AES Indiana that Braun publicly criticized.

According to reporting from FOX59, the increase is expected to raise bills for most AES Indiana customers by about $5 per month.

In a statement, Braun called the IURC’s decision disappointing.

"My top priority is affordability, which is why I am deeply disappointed by the IURC’s approval of another AES rate increase," Braun said. "Hoosiers have spent years tightening their belts and making tough financial decisions. It’s time for utility companies to do the same."

Braun has asked the OUCC to consider rehearing AES Indiana’s rate increase case, FOX59 said, though it remains unclear whether the agency will act on that request.