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United Senior Action has joined forces with Citizens Action Coalition in the
Citizens Gas rate increase process.
Earlier this year, Citizens Gas announced plans to seek approval of an increase in rates from
the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. In order for consumers in Indianapolis to have a voice,
Citizens Action Coalition secured the legal counsel of Jerry Polk and asked United Senior
Action to join the effort.
“Citizens Action Coalition has been the state’s leading voice for utility and telephone
consumers for many years,” said Michelle Niemier, USA executive director. “We have always been proud
to work alongside CAC on issues impacting our membership.”
In filing to represent CAC and USA in the proceedings, Polk outlined the following:
“The subject matter...concerns a proposal for a near 10% increase in Citizens Gas & Coke Utility’s
rates and charges for natural gas service...In particular, Citizens Gas has proposed the following:
1) reallocation of costs among its customer classes; 2) an alternative regulatory plan (“ARP”) which
includes an uncollectible expense automatic adjustment (or “tracker”) mechanism; 3) a set of
energy efficiency or Demand Side Management (“DSM”) program; 4) recovery of DSM program costs;
and, 5) a rate of adjustment mechanism to recover potential loss of margin attributable to
so-called ‘uncontrollable factors’...”
Niemier said United Senior Action has applied for and been approved for a grant from the
Indiana Utility Ratepayer Trust to help with USA and CAC’s costs for the action.
More information will be available soon about this endeavor.
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