Indiana Consumer counselor's office says Duke rate request lacks needed details

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission must approve Duke's request before it can go forward. Under a 2013 state law, Duke's customers would pay for such infrastructure improvements through a series of rate increases over the project's length.

Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor David Stippler said in the release that in addition to Duke's failure to list details of projects and costs, some of the listed projects are beyond the statutory scope of what is allowed in such plans. Among the projects the consumer counselor believes are not permitted include vegetation management, replacement of existing radio communications systems, operation center upgrades that include a combination of remodeling and security improvements and a proposed $3 million energy learning center.

The release also noted that similar requests by other utilities in the state, including Northern Indiana Public Service Co. and Vectren, should have shown Duke the kind and depth of the information the utilities commission requires before approving such plans. That data should not only include detailed project estimates but evidence that the utility is "focusing on replacing aging assets (such as aging poles, lines, transformers, etc.) that face the most risk throughout its transmission and distribution system."

Without a comprehensive business plan from Duke, the consumer counselor also can't determine the feasibility of Duke's proposal to replace existing customer meters with advanced metering devices, or “smart meters.” The release noted that no other Indiana utility has sought a switch to the new meters, which don't require meter readers and also provide almost immediate feedback to consumers on their electricity use.