Introduced Version
SENATE BILL No. 226
_____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 8-1-2-46.
Synopsis: Utility customer assistance programs. Amends the statute
that authorizes a water or wastewater utility, in the context of a general
rate case, to establish a customer assistance program for qualified
residential customers, to provide the same authority to energy utilities.
Effective: Upon passage.
Hunley
January 8, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Utilities.
2025 IN 226—LS 6686/DI 101 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.
SENATE BILL No. 226
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 8-1-2-46, AS AMENDED BY P.L.233-2017,
2 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
3 UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 46. (a) The commission shall provide for a
4 comprehensive classification of such service for each public utility and
5 such classification may take into account the quantity used, the time
6 when used, the purpose for which used and other reasonable
7 consideration. Each public utility is required to conform its schedules
8 of rates, tolls, and charges to such classification.
9 (b) As used in this section, "energy utility" means:
10 (1) a public utility, as defined in section 1(a) of this chapter;
11 (2) a municipally owned utility, as defined in section 1(h) of
12 this chapter;
13 (3) a cooperatively owned utility; or
14 (4) a not-for-profit utility, including a utility company owned,
15 operated, or held in trust by a consolidated city;
16 that provides electric utility service, gas utility service, or both
17 electric utility service and gas utility service to the public.
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1 (c) As used in this section, "utility" means:
2 (1) an energy utility; or
3 (2) a water or wastewater utility.
4 (b) (d) As used in this section, "water or wastewater utility" means:
5 (1) a public utility, as defined in section 1(a) of this chapter;
6 (2) a municipally owned utility, as defined in section 1(h) of this
7 chapter; or
8 (3) a not-for-profit utility, as defined in section 125(a) of this
9 chapter;
10 that provides water or wastewater service to the public.
11 (c) (e) Upon request by a water or wastewater utility in a general
12 rate case, the commission may allow, but may not require, a water or
13 wastewater utility to establish a customer assistance program that:
14 (1) uses state or federal infrastructure funds, as applicable; or
15 (2) provides financial relief to residential customers who qualify
16 for income related assistance.
17 A customer assistance program established under this subsection that
18 affects rates and charges for service is not discriminatory for purposes
19 of this chapter or any other law regulating rates and charges for service.
20 In considering whether to approve a water or wastewater utility's
21 proposed customer assistance program, the commission shall determine
22 that a customer assistance program established under this subsection
23 furthers the interests set forth in section 0.5 of this chapter and is in the
24 public interest.
25 (d) (f) The commission shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
26 implement this section.
27 SECTION 2. An emergency is declared for this act.
2025 IN 226—LS 6686/DI 101