Proposal Seeks to Reject AES Indiana Rate Hike

A proposal is seeking to reject AES Indiana's pending rate increase, which could further strain Hoosiers' budgets. The Pike Township trustee's office has seen a significant jump in utility bills it helped pay, from over $11,500 in January-August 2024 to more than $53,000 by 2025.

Pike Township board member Demetrice Hicks spoke out at an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission hearing, saying: “We do anticipate if this rate increase is approved that we as a legislative body for this township are going to have to decide and determine what that level of support looks like. Because we are the ones who are going to have to increase our funding for township emergency assistance.”

Republican City-County Councilor Michael Hart plans to present Proposal No. 287 at Monday's meeting, which requests that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission protect ratepayers by withdrawing or rejecting AES Indiana's pending rate increase petition.

Hart said: “It provides a public hearing so this proposal will go to committee on the 30th of September and give people the opportunity to come and speak to the council about their opinions on the rate hike as well.”

Hart hopes the proposal will receive bipartisan support, saying: “We actually have a chance to say something as a council I feel that it is appropriate to do so.”