An Indiana state senator from Posey County has an idea to reform the state’s utility commission. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
The five-member Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission is appointed to four-year terms by the governor.
And Republican Governor Mike Braun will have the opportunity to appoint or re-appoint all the members.
But GOP State Senator Jim Tomes (toms) of Wadesville says voters should decide:
"If they're qualified they can show their qualifications, the citizens can vote for the person whose going to dictate what their rates are going to be. That I think we could do. I think we should do.""
Tomes says commissioners would be elected on a rotating basis:
"Where two are elected, and formulate it so when will the next two come up for election and after that, the last one elected. And then that would cycle however many years we determine each one would hold that seat."
Tomes spoke on WNIN Lawmakers.
It’s not clear how much support exists for Tomes’ idea.
It follows a recent unanimous vote by the IURC to raise electric rates for CenterPoint’s Southern Indiana customers.
It calls for an immediate seven-dollar monthly increase for the typical residential customer and a 26-dollar per month hike next year.