State Rep. Garcia Wilburn urges House District 32 residents to comment on proposed Duke Energy rate hike request

In-person field hearing comment opportunity set for Thursday, June 27

Submitted

Duke Energy, which serves parts of Indiana House District 32, has submitted a rate hike request to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Duke’s request would increase their revenue 16.2 percent and their profit margin from 9.7 to 10.5 percent, resulting in an estimated monthly bill increase of 19 percent, or $27.63.

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) expressed her opposition to customers footing what she says is an exorbitant bill and encouraged constituents to either submit written comments to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor or attend a public field hearing in Fishers on June 27.

Garcia Wilburn

“The argument that Duke Energy, our utility monopoly, needs an even higher profit margin when every penny of it comes from a Hoosier paying for a necessity is absurd,” Garcia Wilburn said. “An increase of this magnitude cannot be necessary when Duke Energy continues to focus on outdated forms of energy production. Duke knows their coal plants require excessive clean-up costs and will continue to for as long as they remain in operation. They cannot expect hard-working families to foot the bill because they chose to stand by an increasingly expensive form of energy that will result in higher bills. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission must not let Duke pass the cost of their decision to the residents of House District 32.

“I am opposing this rate hike because my community is already facing high utility bills, not to mention unresolved issues with property taxes, healthcare costs, and their household grocery bills. They have better things to spend their hard-earned money on than Duke’s refusal to adapt to the fact new, more sustainable energy production is on the horizon.

“If you have thoughts on Duke’s rate hike proposal, I encourage you to either submit written comment to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor or attend the public field hearing the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is holding on June 27 at the Hamilton East Public Library Fishers branch. Your voice matters when it’s your money on the line.”

Consumers may submit written comments to the OUCC via the online portal here. It is important to reference Duke’s cause number (Cause No. 46038).

The June 27 public field hearing will begin at 5 p.m. in the East/Center rooms at the Hamilton East Public Library, 5 Municipal Drive, Fishers.