Electric utilities will fight for low costs
Would it surprise you to know that the air in Indiana is cleaner today than any point in the last 40 years? In 2011, every Indiana community met the national air quality standards for the first time in the history of the Clean Air Act.
Meanwhile, the price of electricity has, since 1990, increased at a rate lower than the national consumer price index and lower than everyday goods and services, including gasoline, housing, food and transportation costs. Indiana currently has the 13th lowest retail electric prices in America.
Indiana’s electric utilities have delivered safe, reliable power at some of the nation’s lowest cost levels for many years while implementing pollution control measures. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, however, is mandating that we do even more.
Today, we are facing an unprecedented challenge to maintain this successful and crucial balance amid new circumstances and factors beyond the control of the utilities.
The EPA recently finalized new mandates and proposed even more. These factors will lead to substantial increases in the cost of electricity for customers. In fact, the State Utility Forecasting Group at Purdue University recently projected a 34 percent increase over the next eight years – 20 percent due to construction and upgrades previously required by the EPA, and another 14 percent for the new EPA mandates.
While the impact will vary by utility – Vectren, for example, recently invested $410 million in emissions control equipment in anticipation of these new mandates and sees no substantial additional expenditures – these new mandates will significantly increase the cost of generating and delivering electricity for Hoosiers and businesses in the state.
New EPA mandates focus on coal-fired power plants. In Indiana, which has an abundance of low-cost, local coal, 95 percent of electric power is generated by coal-powered plants. More than one-fourth of Indiana’s coal-powered generating capacity was installed before 1970.
Indiana’s electric utilities will strive to ensure the actual increase from the new mandates is less than these alarming projections. To keep costs low for Hoosier homeowners and residents, and to keep Indiana competitive in job creation and economic development, we must do so.
The Indiana Energy Association and its members are committed to keeping Hoosiers informed and helping them understand and manage impacts on their electric bills, especially amid this changing regulatory and cost climate. Visit the new IndianaEnergy.org website to learn more and access resources.
And be energy-informed.
Edwin J. Simcox
Interim president
Indiana Energy Assoc.
Vandalism to trails should sadden all
I get a great deal of enjoyment out of riding my bike on the new Industrial Heritage Trail in Kokomo, as well as the Walk of Excellence. I ride them a couple of times a week.
There has been a lot of effort put into the paving, fencing and landscaping all along the trails. I appreciate that effort and enjoy the added trees, flowers, mulch, murals and well-designed intersections with streets.
All of the folks I have passed on the trails have been friendly and cooperative about sharing the trail with walkers, runners, baby strollers and bikers.
As I soaked in the beautiful morning on my ride today, I was troubled by an apparent act of vandalism. Someone had smashed one of the brand new lights along the trail. This just makes me sad.
Scott Hersberger
Kokomo
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