SB0241 — A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning utilities.

Summary

Amends the statute that authorizes a conservancy district providing water service to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) if the conservancy district serves less than 2,000 customers, so as to authorize a withdrawal from the IURC's jurisdiction if the conservancy district serves less than 3,000 customers. Amends the existing statute authorizing alternative regulatory procedures for water or sewer utilities with customer bases not exceeding specified numbers to include within the scope of the statute a procedure that promotes economic development opportunities in rural areas while providing just and reasonable protections to a utility's existing ratepayers. Prohibits a water or wastewater utility (utility) from charging or collecting a capacity related fee or a tap fee to an eligible customer for connecting workforce housing to the utility's water or wastewater system (system) under certain circumstances. Provides that if the utility determines that the extension of service to the workforce housing will not result in a positive contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period, the utility may charge and collect from the eligible customer a capacity related fee or a tap fee that does not exceed the difference between: (1) the otherwise applicable capacity related fee or tap fee; minus (2) the contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period that will result from the extension of service to the workforce housing. Provides that for purposes of these provisions, an "eligible customer" means a not-for-profit organization that: (1) has entered into an agreement with the Indiana housing and community development authority under which the person will construct workforce housing in Indiana; and (2) seeks to connect the workforce housing to the system of a utility under the terms of a special contract with the utility. Authorizes a water or wastewater utility that is eligible under existing law to recover costs for service enhancement improvements (eligible utility) to adjust the statutory adjustment tracker to reflect certain per unit chemical and power costs if those costs have increased or decreased by more than 3% over the two most recent years. Provides that if the costs: (1) have increased by more than 3% over the two year period, the amount of the adjustment shall be included in the adjustment rider as an expense; or (2) have decreased by more than 3% over the two year period, the amount of the adjustment shall be included in the adjustment rider as a credit. Provides that an eligible utility is not required to seek preapproval of a plan from the IURC in order to seek recovery of the costs of chemicals and power. Requires an eligible utility for which the IURC has issued an order approving an adjustment rider for the recovery of chemical or power costs to file a petition for a change in its adjustment amount: (1) not later than 30 days after the end of each 12 month period after the date of the IURC's order approving the adjustment rider; and (2) until the IURC issues an order in the eligible utility's next general rate case. Specifies that the costs of chemicals and power may be recovered in full and without deferring 20% of the costs for recovery as part of the eligible utility's next general rate case.

Bill Text

Action History

1. March 05, 2026

   Public Law 127

2. March 05, 2026

   Signed by the Governor

3. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the Speaker

4. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President of the Senate

5. February 27, 2026

   Signed by the President Pro Tempore

6. February 25, 2026

   Senate concurred with House amendments; Roll Call 284: yeas 44, nays 3

7. February 16, 2026

   Motion to concur filed

8. February 10, 2026

   Returned to the Senate with amendments

9. February 09, 2026

   Third reading: passed; Roll Call 210: yeas 91, nays 3

10. February 05, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

11. February 03, 2026

    Representatives Hall, Pressel added as cosponsors

12. February 03, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

13. January 28, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications

14. January 23, 2026

    Referred to the House

15. January 22, 2026

    House sponsor: Representative Soliday

16. January 22, 2026

    Third reading: passed; Roll Call 59: yeas 42, nays 2

17. January 20, 2026

    Second reading: ordered engrossed

18. January 15, 2026

    Senators Doriot, Maxwell added as coauthors

19. January 15, 2026

    Committee report: amend do pass, adopted

20. January 15, 2026

    Senator Hunley added as third author

21. January 15, 2026

    Senator Deery added as second author

22. January 08, 2026

    Authored by Senator Koch

23. January 08, 2026

    First reading: referred to Committee on Utilities

Sponsors

• Eric Koch · Primary

Votes

Subjects