Duke Energy is requesting a rate increase in a pending case. The utility's request would raise annual revenues by approximately $491.5 million (16.2%). The increase would implemented in two phases. The OUCC’s analysis shows that an increase of approximately $184.7 million (6.1%) is warranted instead, based on the case’s evidence and applicable law.
All hearings in this case have concluded.
Standard practice is for parties to file proposed orders in the exact language they hope the Commission will adopt. The utility filed its proposed order on Sept. 26. The OUCC filed its proposed order on Oct. 18.
All publicly filed documents in this case (Cause No. 46038) are available on the IURC's website.
Most rate cases take approximately 300 days to complete, and a final order from the IURC is expected in early 2025. The OUCC's timeline outlines the steps in the process.
- Utility Testimony
Duke Energy filed its petition and the following testimony on Apr. 4, 2024:
- Pinegar
- Rutledge
- Graft
- Sieferman
- Lilly
- Diaz
- Flick
- Rimal
- Bauer
- McKenzie
- Kopp
- Spanos
- Riley
- Buck
- Panizza
- Caldwell
- Luke
- Hoeflich
- Hill
- Swez
- Verderame
- Abbott: 1 | 2
- McCorkle
- Colley
The utility's accounting work papers and additional exhibits are posted on the Commission's website.
- Public Comments
The OUCC has received and filed more than 5,600 pages of consumer comments in this case. In addition, the IURC heard testimony from consumers at a series of public field hearings:
- Terre Haute: June 4, 2024
- Bloomington: June 20, 2024 (Fact Sheet)
- Fishers: June 27, 2024
- New Albany: Aug. 8, 2024
OUCC news releases inviting public comments were issued in May, June, and July.
- OUCC Testimony
The OUCC filed the following testimony on July 11, 2024, based on a 3 1/2 month technical and legal review of Duke Energy's proposal. The agency's July 12, 2024 news release has more information.
Previous Rate Case
- 2019-2020 Rate Case (Current Rates)
The IURC issued its order in the Duke Energy rate case on June 29, 2020, authorizing a $146 million increase in the utility's annual operating revenues.
The Indiana Supreme Court reversed a portion of the Commission's order on Mar. 10, 2022. Duke Energy's petition for rehearing was denied by the Indiana Supreme Court on May 26, 2022.
- A settlement agreement resolving issues on remand received Commission approval on Apr. 12, 2023.
- The OUCC, industrial customers, and Duke Energy reached the agreement and filed testimony supporting it.
- The approved settlement will provide customers with $70.25 million in refund credits, and $23.2 million in annual credits going forward.
In the parties' respective closing briefs in the original IURC case, Duke Energy requested a $362 million increase. The OUCC recommended a rate reduction of approximately $135 million.
IURC public field hearings in this case were held in Carmel, Terre Haute, and New Albany. The OUCC issued an August 27, 2019 news release to invite consumer comments.
All publicly filed documents in IURC Cause No. 45253 are posted in the Commission's case file, including consumer comments filed by the OUCC. Issues regarding ash pond closure costs and a proposed electric vehicle pilot program have been moved to separate subdockets.
The OUCC filed the following testimony on Duke Energy's rate request on October 30, 2019:
- Submission of Case-In-Chief (4 pages)
- 1. Eckert (24 pages)
- 2. Kollen (194 pages)
- 3. Armstrong (186 pages)
- 4. Blakley (24 pages)
- 5. Alvarez (53 pages)
- 6. Hand (51 pages)
- 7. Haselden (65 pages)
- 8. Aguilar (234 pages)
- 9. Boerger (33 pages)
- 10. Dismukes (192 pages)
- 11. Garrett - Depreciation (511 pages)
- 12. Garrett - Return on Equity (121 pages)
- 13. Watkins (103 pages)
Duke Energy filed its petition on July 2, 2019. Its initial testimony included:
- 1: Pinegar (46 pages)
- 2: Davey (40 pages)
- 3: Jacobi (43 pages)
- 4: Douglas (119 pages)
- 5: Sieferman (82 pages)
- 6: Graft (35 pages)
- 7: Diaz (46 pages)
- 8: Bailey (30 pages)
- 9: Flick (42 pages)
- 10: Hansen (32 pages)
- 11: Hevert (167 pages)
- 12: Sullivan (15 pages)
- 13: Kopp (81 pages)
- 14: Spanos:
- 15: Pike (38 pages)
- 16: Setser (120 pages)
- 17: Panizza (16 pages)
- 18: Metzler:
- 19: Mosley (39 pages)
- 20: Gurganus (72 pages)
- 21: Thiemann (203 pages)
- 22: Phipps (16 pages)
- 23: Verderame (40 pages)
- 24: Ritch (26 pages)
- 25: Abbott (29 pages)
- 26: Hart (43 pages)
- 27: Christie (50 pages)
- 28: Schneider (16 pages)
- 29: Quick (35 pages)
- 30: Hunsicker (25 pages)
- 31: Reynolds (58 pages)
10-21-2024