Indiana residents push back on rising electric bills as state launches hearings, listening tour

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The energy flowing through power lines across Indiana is creating growing anxiety not just about how electricity is produced, but how much it costs. For many residents, monthly bills are climbing fast — and families said they are feeling the strain.

"Used to be maybe $150 a month. It’s closer to $400 a month now," said Indiana resident Marietsa Haskins.

That kind of increase is getting attention, and prompts questions for state leaders — including Gov. Mike Braun — about why utility rates are rising.

Braun said this is the first time the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will hold hearings specifically to hear customer concerns and hold investor-owned utilities accountable. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor already pushed back on at least one requested increase.

According to the consumer counselor’s office, AES Indiana requested a $192 million rate hike. However, the agency’s analysis concluded that a $21.2 million reduction for ratepayers was warranted instead.

Residents on fixed incomes said the rising costs are becoming difficult to manage.

"We have Social Security. That’s what we live on. And it just don’t cut it anymore. They’re rising faster than our checks rise," Haskins said.

The issue comes as federal and state leaders look at energy supply. Earlier this week, President Donald Trump’s Department of Energy issued an emergency order to keep two Indiana coal plants operational.

One of Braun’s first executive orders directed the state to evaluate remaining coal-based power plants. That same order noted that demand for electricity is increasing — driven by data centers, artificial intelligence and the growing number of electronic devices people use every day.

"These hyperscalers got plenty of money. It will be a good economic development consideration, but it cannot in any way impact utility rates," Braun said. "In fact, they should be putting more onto the grid so it brings costs down."

To gather more feedback, the state launched a listening tour to give customers a voice in the process.

"You do something to bring them down," Haskins said.

The second of 10 listening sessions is scheduled for Saturday. The closest meeting to southern Indiana will be held in Columbus in early April.