IURC public hearing for Anderson electric rate increase is nearly empty

The city of Anderson is proposing a 12 percent rate increase for customers of the city-owned electric utility. But last night, an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission public hearing on the increase had only a few attendees.  IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports.

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00;00;00;10 - 00;00;15;06 Thomas Ouellette Less than ten people in the audience gathered to give their opinions on what the utility says would be an average increase of about . Anderson resident Ben Glick spoke against the increase, saying the extra cost would stretch other citizens too thin. 00;00;15;08 - 00;00;29;04 Ben Glick You see, cell phone companies raise rates per line. Gas has gone up. Food has gone up. It costs more on a monthly basis to make a household work than it ever has before. And we're seeing that specifically in 2026. 00;00;29;06 - 00;00;41;06 Thomas Ouellette According to the IURC. Anderson is asking for this increase to address higher operating and maintenance costs and infrastructure repair. Ashley Bishop with the IURC says this follows a statewide trend. 00;00;41;11 - 00;00;50;22 Ashley Bishop So it's costing more money to keep those facilities open. And so utilities are faced with the issue. Do I create new generation or do I try to keep this really old facility open and both are costly? 00;00;50;25 - 00;00;59;04 Thomas Ouellette The public hearing is the first part of a year long process to consider granting the utility rate increase. I'm Thomas Ouellette in Anderson.

Less than 10 people in the audience gathered to give their opinions on what the utility says would be an average increase of about $17 on monthly bills. The meeting was solely for consumer testimony, with a strict set of rules that meant the IURC would not answer audience questions. 

Anderson resident Ben Glick spoke against the increase, saying the extra cost would stretch other citizens too thin.

“We’ve seen cell phone companies raise rates per line, gas has gone up, food has gone up,” he said. “It costs more on a monthly basis to make a household work than it ever has before, and we’re seeing that specifically in 2026.”

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According to the IURC, Anderson is asking for this increase to address higher operating and maintenance costs and infrastructure repair. The rate hike will provide a $12 million increase to Anderson’s electric utilities operating revenues.

Ashley Bishop with the IURC says this follows a statewide trend.

“It’s costing more money to keep those facilities open,” said Bishop. “So, utilities are faced with the issue, do I create new generation or do I try to keep this really old facility open and both are costly.”

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The public hearing is the first part of a year-long process to consider granting the utility rate increase.

A substantial increase to the Anderson water utility rate was also put into effect in late 2025. 

Several towns, including fellow Madison County locale Alexandria, are seeing considerable increases to utility rates.

Feedback to IURC

Anderson residents have until July 24 to provide written comment either through mail at:

• 115 West Washington Street, Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
• or at the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor website.

The IURC and OUCC will consider all evidence from the City of Anderson that the increase is needed and is estimated to make a final ruling in “winter 2027,” according to an agency timeline.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu