Why It Matters
Indiana utility regulators are taking an unusual step toward direct public engagement, launching a statewide affordability listening tour aimed at hearing from Hoosier ratepayers who say they are struggling to keep up with rising energy costs. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s initiative signals a potential shift in how the agency balances its role between energy providers and the customers they serve.
For Indiana households already facing inflation-driven budget pressures, the sessions offer a rare opportunity to speak directly with the regulators who oversee the rates charged by the state’s largest utility companies.
What Happened
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission announced it will conduct a 10-session listening tour across Indiana, inviting residents to attend community meetings and share their experiences with utility affordability. IURC Chairman Andy Zay made the announcement in a news release on Friday, March 21, 2026.
The tour follows an all-day affordability investigation in which the IURC called in Indiana’s five largest utility providers — commonly referred to as the “big five” — to address concerns about rising costs for residential customers. The listening sessions are designed to complement that regulatory inquiry by gathering firsthand testimony from the public.
Chairman Zay, appointed to the post by Governor Mike Braun late last year, framed the tour as a direct response to widespread constituent feedback. “In my short time as Chairman of the IURC, my fellow Commissioners and I have heard from thousands of utility customers from all over Indiana that they are struggling to pay their energy bills,” Zay said in the release.
Zay, a former Indiana state senator, began his role alongside two other new Braun appointees in January. The five-member commission is legally mandated to act as an impartial arbiter between utility companies and their customers, ensuring services are delivered at “just and reasonable rates.” Zay has publicly stated that the current balance between provider interests and customer protections is “out of whack” — an unusually direct characterization for a regulatory leader in the traditionally measured agency.
Residents attending the sessions are encouraged to bring copies of their utility bills. Most sessions are scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. local time, with adjusted hours for stops in Syracuse and Gary.
By the Numbers
- 10 total listening sessions planned across Indiana communities
- 5 major utility providers called in for the preceding affordability investigation
- 3 new IURC commissioners, including Chairman Zay, who began service in January 2026
- Thousands of utility customers cited by Zay as having already contacted the commission about affordability concerns
- 2 hours allotted per session, running generally from 6 to 8 p.m., with modified schedules in select cities
Session Schedule
The IURC’s confirmed stops include locations across northern, central, and southern Indiana. Sessions are scheduled at the following locations:
March 26: La Porte Civic Auditorium, La Porte | March 28: Syracuse Town Hall, Syracuse (10 a.m.–noon) | April 1: Elkhart County Fairgrounds Community Center, Goshen | April 2: Columbus City Hall, Columbus | April 6: New Haven Community Center, Fort Wayne | April 7: Old National Events Plaza, Evansville | April 9: Noblesville City Hall Council Chambers, Noblesville | April 13: Gary Public Library, Gary (5:30–7:30 p.m.)
Zoom Out
Indiana’s affordability tour reflects a broader national conversation about utility costs and the role of state regulators in protecting residential customers. Across the country, utility commissions in states including Illinois, Michigan, and Colorado have faced mounting pressure from lawmakers and consumer advocates to scrutinize rate increase requests more aggressively amid rising household energy burdens.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration has reported that residential electricity prices have climbed steadily in recent years, driven by infrastructure investment costs, fuel price volatility, and grid modernization projects. Low- and moderate-income households typically spend a disproportionate share of their income on energy, a metric known as energy burden.
Indiana’s approach — combining a formal utility investigation with direct community outreach — is notable for its dual-track structure and the unusually candid tone of its new commission leadership.
What’s Next
The IURC is expected to complete its listening tour by mid-April 2026, with remaining session locations to be announced. Testimony and feedback gathered during the sessions are anticipated to inform the commission’s ongoing affordability investigation and could factor into future rate case decisions involving Indiana’s major utility providers.
Regulators have not yet indicated a specific timeline for releasing findings or recommendations stemming from the investigation. Residents unable to attend in person are encouraged to monitor the IURC’s official communications for additional participation options.