INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), Indianapolis Power & Light Co. (IPL), and the City of Indianapolis have reached a settlement agreement that will allow the city’s proposed electric vehicle program to move forward while implementing a number of enhanced consumer protections. Also, the agreement will allow for the creation of a new street lighting initiative that will promote energy efficiency and improve public safety for years to come.
In IURC Cause No. 44478, IPL has requested IURC authorization of a rate increase to pay for certain infrastructure costs for BlueIndy, an electric vehicle sharing program for public use with charging stations to be developed at up to 200 sites throughout IPL’s service territory. The initial request from the utility and the city sought $16 million in ratepayer funds for providing electric line extensions to the charging sites (approximately $3.7 million) and the installation of charging stations and related equipment (approximately $12.3 million).
IPL’s testimony in this case estimated that the proposal would raise a typical residential customer’s bill (for 1,000 kilowatt hours) by 44 cents per month. Under specific concessions made in the settlement agreement, the estimated impact was reduced to 28 cents per month on such a bill. Additionally, under the plan, any funds IPL receives through the profit sharing arrangement it has reached with BlueIndy and the city will be used solely for rate mitigation.
In the agreement, IPL and the city also agree to additional concessions regarding the BlueIndy project: The city commits to make all reasonable efforts to seek grant funding to help mitigate electric rates, along with efforts to secure other project funding especially from corporate citizens.
IPL customers who sign up for an annual membership for the service within the first six months would receive the first two months free (a value of about $26 per customer).
The agreement would also create a new initiative to improve street lighting in IPL’s service territory to enhance energy efficiency and public safety, and provide other public benefits.The program will provide up to $1.5 million for the benefit of interested communities and neighborhoods throughout IPL’s service territory.
