Indiana regulators tell state’s electric utilities they must do more to encourage conservation

Indiana regulators order greater conservation push

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana’s electric utilities are being told they need to push conservation programs, with the goal of annual statewide energy savings of 2 percent within a decade.

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has told the utility companies they must have programs that encourage home energy audits, home weatherization for low-income households and energy efficiency by schools and industries.

The agency gave no estimate for the cost of such programs. It says Indiana ranks 31st nationally and sixth in the Midwest for the amount of money spent on energy efficiency initiatives.

The commission said greater efficiency would reduce the need for electric companies to build more power plants.