Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1673
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 8-1-1.
Synopsis: Tracking of municipal utility costs. Requires the Indiana
utility regulatory commission (commission) to include in the
commission's annual report and publish on the commission's website:
(1) the average amount paid by residents of each Indiana municipality
for: (A) energy utility service; (B) water and wastewater utility service;
and (C) gas distribution service; in the preceding year, disaggregated
by municipality; and (2) the statistical change in each of these average
amounts since the first year for which the commission reported the
average amount.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Burton
January 21, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and
Telecommunications.
2025 IN 1673—LS 7418/DI 119 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1673
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
utilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 8-1-1-14, AS AMENDED BY P.L.71-2022,
2 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 14. (a) As used in this section, "committee" refers
4 to the interim study committee on energy, utilities, and
5 telecommunications established by IC 2-5-1.3-4(8).
6 (b) The chairman of the commission shall prepare an annual report
7 and file it with the governor and the chairman of the legislative council
8 before October 1 of each year. The commission shall present the annual
9 report to the committee before October 1 of each year. A report filed
10 under this subsection with the chairman of the legislative council must
11 be in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6. The chairman shall include
12 in the annual report information for the fiscal year ending June 30 of
13 the year in which the report is due.
14 (c) The annual report required under subsection (b) must include the
15 following:
16 (1) An update on the operations of the commission, including the
17 following:
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1 (A) Statistics relevant to the workload and operations of the
2 commission.
3 (B) A statement of the commission's revenues by source and
4 expenditures by purpose.
5 (C) A description of the commission's goals, legal
6 responsibilities, and accomplishments.
7 (D) Comments on the state of the commission and the various
8 kinds of utilities that it regulates.
9 (E) Any other matters that the commission wishes to bring to
10 the attention of the governor and the general assembly.
11 (2) Information concerning changes or emerging trends in the
12 energy utility industry, and the effects of those changes or trends
13 on service and on the pricing of all energy utility services under
14 the jurisdiction of the commission. The information reported
15 under this subdivision must include the following:
16 (A) The:
17 (i) average amount paid by residents of each Indiana
18 municipality for energy utility service in the preceding
19 year, disaggregated by municipality; and
20 (ii) statistical change in each amount reported under
21 item (i) since the first year for which the commission
22 reported the amount.
23 (A) (B) The effects of competition or changes in the energy
24 utility industry, including the impact on customer rates.
25 (B) (C) The status of modernization of the energy utility
26 facilities in Indiana and the incentives in place to further
27 enhance this infrastructure.
28 (C) (D) The effects on economic development of the
29 modernization described in clause (B). (C).
30 (D) (E) Changes in Indiana's electricity generation mix.
31 (E) (F) Any other energy utility matters the commission
32 considers appropriate.
33 (3) Information concerning changes or emerging trends in the
34 water and wastewater utility industries, and the effects of those
35 changes or trends on service and on the pricing of all water and
36 wastewater utility services under the jurisdiction of the
37 commission. The information reported under this subdivision
38 must include the following:
39 (A) The:
40 (i) average amount paid by residents of each Indiana
41 municipality for water and wastewater utility service in
42 the preceding year, disaggregated by municipality; and
2025 IN 1673—LS 7418/DI 119 3
1 (ii) statistical change in each amount reported under
2 item (i) since the first year for which the commission
3 reported the amount.
4 (A) (B) The effects of changes in the water and wastewater
5 utility industries, including the impact on customer rates.
6 (B) (C) The status of water and wastewater utility
7 infrastructure in Indiana and the incentives in place to further
8 enhance this infrastructure.
9 (C) (D) An update on:
10 (i) acquisitions under IC 8-1-30.3;
11 (ii) consolidations;
12 (iii) regionalization; and
13 (iv) service territory disputes;
14 involving water and wastewater utilities.
15 (D) (E) The nature and extent of the jurisdiction of the
16 commission and other state agencies over various types of
17 water and wastewater utilities.
18 (E) (F) Any other water or wastewater utility matters the
19 commission considers appropriate.
20 (4) Information concerning the communications services industry,
21 including the following:
22 (A) The type and availability of communications service
23 provided to Indiana customers, including the provision of
24 video service (as defined in IC 8-1-34-14).
25 (B) Details on the status of the Indiana universal service fund.
26 (C) The status of eligible telecommunications carriers for
27 purposes of receiving:
28 (i) Lifeline reimbursement from the federal universal service
29 fund;
30 (ii) support to serve rural and high cost areas; and
31 (iii) other monetary support from the federal universal
32 service fund;
33 through the administrator designated by the Federal
34 Communications Commission.
35 (D) A summary of the video franchise fee reports submitted
36 under IC 8-1-34-24.5.
37 (E) Any other matters concerning the communications services
38 industry the commission considers appropriate.
39 (5) Information concerning Indiana's pipeline safety program,
40 including the following:
41 (A) An update on the activities of the commission's pipeline
42 safety division established by IC 8-1-22.5-2.
2025 IN 1673—LS 7418/DI 119 4
1 (B) An update on activities under IC 8-1-26.
2 (C) An update on the underground plant protection account
3 established by IC 8-1-26-24.
4 (D) Any other matters concerning pipeline safety the
5 commission considers appropriate.
6 (6) The:
7 (A) average amount paid by residents of each Indiana
8 municipality for gas distribution service (as defined in
9 IC 8-1-2-87) in the preceding year, disaggregated by
10 municipality; and
11 (B) statistical change in each amount reported under
12 clause (A) since the first year for which the commission
13 reported the amount.
14 SECTION 2. IC 8-1-1-14.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
15 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
16 1, 2025]: Sec. 14.1. The commission shall publish on the
17 commission's website the information described in:
18 (1) section 14(c)(2)(A);
19 (2) section 14(c)(3)(A); and
20 (3) section 14(c)(6);
21 of this chapter.
2025 IN 1673—LS 7418/DI 119