Vectren North Gas is seeking a base rate increase for customers, which includes it service area in Columbus.
Customers who wish to offer their comments on the rate case will have an opportunity to do so at a public field hearing at 6 p.m. today.
According to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC), attendees will be able to offer comments in person at the Carmel Middle School Cafeteria or via phone. Videoconferencing is also available, per a docket entry from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
All speakers, whether in person or remote, are encouraged to RSVP no later than noon today. They can do so by calling 1-317-232-5888 or by going to www.IN.gov/OUCC and clicking the RSVP link under the section on Vectren North.
Consumers can also submit comments to the OUCC in writing — whether through email, via their website or by mail — through March 24. Written comments and those given orally at the field hearing will both become part of the case record and hold the same weight.
The utility is proposing a $20.8 million annual increase in two phases. According to its testimony, the request is due to higher operating and maintenance costs, and $818 million in infrastructure investments since 2008.
A final order from the IURC is expected in October.
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What: IURC public field hearing
When: 6 p.m. today
Where: Carmel Middle School Cafeteria, 300 S. Guilford Road
Additional information: Customers are encouraged to participate via telephone. Those who attend in-person will be required to wear masks and comply with social distancing. According to the docket entry for this hearing, attendance may be limited due to legal requirements. All speakers, whether in person or remote, are encouraged to RSVP no later than noon today by calling 1-317-232-5888 or by going to www.IN.gov/OUCC and clicking the RSVP link under the section on Vectren North.
To speak via phone, call 1-415-655-0001 before 5:50 p.m. When prompted, enter the following meeting number: 185 229 6420#.
A link for providing comments via video is also available in the docket entry, which can be accessed through the online case file, accessible at www.in.gov/oucc/featured-topics/vectren-north-gas-rates/.
A livestream of the hearing will be available online, and links will be posted on the OUCC and IURC homepages.
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Deadline to submit written comments about the rate request is March 24.
Comments can be submitted online, via email or by mail and should include: the consumer’s name, mailing address and a reference to either “IURC Cause No. 45468” or Vectren North. To submit online, use the form available at www.in.gov/oucc/contact-us/. For email, contact [email protected]. For mail, the address is:
Consumer Services Staff
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204
For more information, call 1-888-441-2494.
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More information about the rate case and submitting comments is available at https://www.in.gov/oucc/featured-topics/vectren-north-gas-rates/.
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Vectren is a wholly owned subsidiary of CenterPoint Energy.
CenterPoint announced in early March that it will retire the Vectren name and transition over to using the CenterPoint name and logo for customers in both Indiana and Ohio.
The company stated that the transition will be "gradual" and includes updating the name and logo on various company assets such as buildings, trucks and uniforms.
The plan is for the transition to be finished in late April, with the addition of CenterPoint Energy’s name and logo on customer-facing assets such as the bill, website and automated phone system.
Customers should still visit vectren.com to access account information online and call 1-800-227-1376 to report emergencies or reach company representatives.
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