Gov. Mike Braun signed an Indiana act into law that aims to make electric utilities more affordable for Hoosier residents.
“You’ve heard me say it, and you’ve heard it a lot: affordability is a big issue,” Braun said Monday afternoon. “I hear it all across the state.”
Braun signed House Enrolled Act 1002 into law Monday afternoon, which was livestreamed on the governor’s YouTube channel.
During the 2026 Indiana legislative session, both the House and Senate passed House Enrolled Act 1002, authored by state Rep. Alaina Shonkwiler, R-Noblesville, which allows residential ratepayers to be placed on budget billing plans on July 1, and utilities will be prohibited from disconnecting low-income customers’ services during periods with extreme heat warnings. House Enrolled Act 1002 also ties utility profits to performance metrics, including affordability and service restoration, and utilities will use a three-year rate plan.
“Hoosiers have been feeling the impact of energy costs, and we want to ensure reliable energy at the lowest possible cost,” Shonkwiler said in a Monday news release. “This law is a landmark reform of our regulatory process, prioritizing ratepayers and adding accountability to ensure utilities are focused on lowering costs and improving service.”
Electric affordability was a priority for both Indiana Democrats and Republicans during the 2026 legislative session.
On Monday, Braun highlighted work he’s done to improve electric affordability since he took office, including appointing three members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor Abby Gray.
“They now constitute, on the IURC, a majority,” Braun said. “They were tasked with making decisions in the public interest to ensure utilities provide service and just and reasonable rates.”
Braun believes it’s important to balance high demand and affordability. His affordability agenda “is showing results,” he said, including NIPSCO’s recent actions to protect customers from disconnection.
On Sunday, NIPSCO announced that the utility won’t disconnect customers for nonpayment through May 15. At the beginning of March, NIPSCO announced several measures that expired March 31, including waived late and reconnect fees, paused service disconnections for nonpayment and reduced reconnect deposits for gas customers, according to Post-Tribune archives.
Northwest Indiana residents have been concerned with high utility bills since the beginning of the year. Multiple protests have been held regionally, and local and state officials aimed to take action to address energy affordability.
The IURC will host a listening session at the Gary Public Library’s Roma K. Ivey Community Room from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. April 13 to talk about energy affordability. NIPSCO participated in an IURC investigative hearing on utility rates statewide.
Braun believes House Enrolled Act 1002 will add to those other actions addressing affordability.
“This bill completely overhauls how utilities are regulated to put ratepayers above profits,” Braun said. “Utility companies now must be accountable for affordability. We’re making sure the private sector forces of market competition and financial accountability are working to keep costs down for Hoosier families.”
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