By Mayor Stephanie Terry

Over the past several months, one issue has come up everywhere I go in Evansville: utility bills. I heard your concerns, and I took them directly to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). I asked state leaders to provide relief for families and to hold utilities accountable.

I also acknowledged an important reality: while the City of Evansville does not set utility rates, we have a responsibility to stand up for our residents. That responsibility also means thinking carefully about how new energy demands could affect families and businesses already struggling with rising costs.

That’s why, last year, I advocated for Evansville to have representation on the IURC, and we were successful in securing it. That Evansville representative has already voted against the latest rate hike. This is meaningful progress that gives our City a voice in decisions that directly affect our families and businesses.

I'm also continuing to advocate for additional solutions that provide immediate relief for Hoosiers, including supporting state legislative action to repeal the sales tax on utility bills in Indiana. Eliminating that tax would immediately reduce what families pay each month without asking them to use less electricity or navigate complicated assistance programs.

Recently, the IURC announced a series of actions in response to its statewide energy affordability investigation. Those actions include launching formal investigations into utility profits and rate structures, setting new expectations for investor-owned utilities to improve affordability, customer service, and energy efficiency, and identifying additional policy changes for state leaders to consider. This is an important step forward. While these actions don't immediately lower your bill, they show that the voices of Evansville residents and communities across Indiana were heard.

When I testified before the Commission, I made one point clear: families are hurting.

I shared stories from residents who feared they would have to move because they could no longer afford their electric bills. I spoke about teachers worried for students whose families couldn't keep their homes warm. I explained how rising utility costs affect not just household budgets, but our city's ability to attract businesses, build affordable housing, and grow our economy.

Across the country, communities are beginning to ask questions about the impact of data centers, particularly large facilities that can require significant amounts of electricity and water. Cities are also beginning to study the potential impacts of future data center development, including energy and water use, infrastructure, environmental impacts, public health and neighborhood quality of life.

Here in Evansville, our community is having that conversation, too. The Area Plan Commission recently recommended a 180-day moratorium on data centers, and the City Council held its first reading of the proposed moratorium yesterday, September 28. Council President Ben Trockman said the goal is to give officials time to learn more about the potential benefits and impacts of data centers and hear from experts.

These conversations are important because affordable energy and economic development have to go hand in hand. As we consider new industries and technologies that could bring investment and jobs to our community, we also need to understand how they could affect our power grid, infrastructure and utility costs.

We should ask the right questions before making major decisions: Who will pay for the infrastructure needed to support increased energy demand? How can we protect existing ratepayers? What benefits will new development bring to Evansville residents? And how can we make sure economic growth does not come at the expense of affordability?

The IURC’s report gives us several areas where we can continue pushing for meaningful change to:

• Expand bill assistance programs for families who need help.
• Increase investments in energy efficiency and weatherization programs that reduce monthly bills.
• Improve customer service and communication with ratepayers.
• Demonstrate greater accountability when requesting future rate increases.
• Carefully evaluate how major new energy users could affect infrastructure and existing ratepayers.

I'm grateful the IURC listened to the concerns raised by Evansville residents and communities across our state. But listening is only the beginning. We need to keep asking questions, examining the impacts of major energy decisions and making sure Evansville's growth works for the people who call this city home.

I'll continue fighting for Evansville families, and I encourage you to do the same. Share your concerns with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, your state legislators, the Governor's Office, and CenterPoint Energy. Your voice matters, and together we can continue pushing for affordable, reliable energy and responsible growth in Evansville.