Date posted online: Thursday, April 12, 2007
NIPSCO bill advances
Tallian disappointed it doesn't protect rate review
INDIANAPOLIS | State regulators could study a possible public takeover of NIPSCO under legislation that cleared the Senate 31-18 Wednesday.
House Bill 1824, which will move to a joint House-Senate conference committee, would allow county officials to request an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission study of what it would take to create a multi-county public power authority to buy out the electric utility and run its power plants and grid.
"There's still a part that's missing," state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes, said before voting against the measure.The legislation comes in response to reports that parent company NiSource is courting buyers for its electric service arm. Tallian worries that a NIPSCO sale could nix the comprehensive rate review the company agreed to undergo next year.
Tallian offered an amendment to mandate the review, but it failed earlier this week. She said NIPSCO has not received a full rate review by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission since 1986.
BREAKOUT
House Bill 1824 would allow the study of a public takeover of NIPSCO, but it does not mandate the full rate review some lawmakers want to take place if the electric utility is sold to another private firm. How they voted:
Yes -- Sen. Vic Heinold, R-Kouts; Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake; Sen. Frank Mrvan, D-Hammond
No -- Sen. Jim Arnold, D-LaPorte; Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary; Sen. Sam Smith, D-East Chicago; Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes
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