Updated July 10, 2026, 9:55 a.m.
A committee has narrowed the field to 12 candidates for Gov. Mike Braun to consider as he fills a vacancy on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the state agency that approved a controversial AES Indiana rate increase last month.
After the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved the rate increase in a 3-1 vote, Braun denounced the decision and promoted Commissioner Anthony Swinger to Chairman.
Then Commissioner David Veleta, who voted for the rate increase, submitted his resignation. He said his resignation is effective Aug. 31 or once a replacement is found.
Braun called for applicants “who will keep ratepayers front and center."
Applications were due July 7 and the IURC nominating committee chose 12 candidates out of 25 applicants Wednesday for a replacement commissioner. The candidates are:
- Josh Bain
- Tanner Bouchie
- Phillip Casey
- Nathan Cazee
- Sean Fagan
- Pete Heuer
- Joby Jerrells
- Tim Rushenberg
- Anthony Sunta
- Chris Switzer
- Alfonso Vidal
- Henry Wilhelmus
The committee will hold interviews with select candidates July 16, then meet July 21 to select three finalists.
Braun will make his pick for new commissioner from the finalists. Or, he could reject them and request three new finalists, IURC spokesperson Emily Duncan said in an email to WFYI.
The nominating committee was led by Braun appointee, State Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources Suzanne Jaworowski. After evaluating applications in an executive session, the committee opened up the meeting to announce the results.
Other committee members appointed by Braun included Dolynne Sherman and Cory Cochrane. Former State Sen. Jim Merritt was appointed by the State Senate Pro Tem, Bill Champion by the House Speaker, Lindsay Shipps Haake and Grant Smith by the Senate and House minority leaders respectively.
The seat's application deadline was the same date as a deadline outlined in state administrative code for a petition to rehear and reconsider the commission's order in the AES Indiana rate case.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, which advocates for ratepayers, and consumer advocacy group Citizens Action Coalition, both filed petitions with the commission Tuesday.
The IURC is made up of five members. For now, the same five people will preside over the petition in the AES rate case as the commissioner hiring process plays out.
Contact WFYI data journalist Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org
