VERIFIED JOINT PETITION OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC, INDIANA GAS COMPANY D/B/A VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC., INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY, INDIANA NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, INDIANAPOLIS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, MIDWEST NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, LLC, OHIO VALLEY GAS CORP. AND OHIO VALLEY GAS, INC., SOUTHERN INDIANA GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC., AND SYCAMORE GAS COMPANYFOR (1) AUTHORITY FOR ALL JOINT PETITIONERS TO DEFER AS A REGULATORY ASSET CERTAIN INCREMENTAL EXPENSE INCREASES AND REVENUE REDUCTIONS OF THE UTILITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO COVID-19; AND (2) THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBDOCKETS FOR EACH JOINT PETITIONER IN WHICH EACH JOINT PETITIONER MAY ADDRESS REPAYMENT PROGRAMS FOR PAST DUE CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS, APPROVAL OF NEW BAD DEBT TRACKERS, AND/OR DETAILS CONCERNING THE FUTURE RECOVERY OF THE COVID-19 REGULATORY ASSET

))))) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ))))))

CAUSE NO. 45377 (Consolidated under Cause No. 45380)

PETITION OF INDIANA OFFICE OF UTILITY CONSUMER COUNSELOR FOR GENERIC INVESTIGATION INTO COVID-19 IMPACTS TO BE CONDUCTED OVER TWO PHASES; EMERGENCY RELIEF PURSUANT TO IND. CODE § 8-1-2-113 TO RELIEVE INDIANA RATEPAYERS OF THE THREAT OF UTILITY SERVICE DISCONNECTION AND PAYMENT ARREARAGES DURING GLOBAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

))))) ) ) ))

CAUSE NO. 45380

ST ATE o/ INDIANA

INDIANA UTILITY REGUlATORY COJ.lllMISSION 101 WEST WASHINGTON STREET, SUITE 1500 EAST

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204-3419

w·w·w.in.gov/ iurc Office: (317) 232-2701

Facsimile: (317) 232-6758

2

You are hereby notified that on this date the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

(“Commission”) has caused the following Entry to be made:

In accordance with 170 IAC 1-1.5-6, the Presiding Officers notify the parties that the attached communications, which address matters currently pending in this proceeding, are being tendered to the record. IT IS SO ORDERED. ___________________________________________ James F. Huston, Chairman ___________________________________________ Loraine L. Seyfried, Chief Administrative Law Judge ___________________________________________ Date

BCS:aa

STATE OF INDIANA

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIRD FLOOR STATE HOUSE

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204

Benjamin Smaltz State Representative

District 52

H52@iga.in.gov

200 West Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46260

COMMITTEES: Public Policy: Chair

Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development

Roads and Transportation

June 29, 2020

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission

PNC Center

101 W. Washington Street, Suite 1500E

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Dear Indiana IURC Chairman Huston,

I would like to thank you and the rest of the IURC Commissioners for all the work that

you have done during this pandemic. I have no doubt that you have had some difficult decisions

to make, which is why I would like to provide you my thoughts on the utilities petition for

recovery of COVID-related expenses. I want to express my opinion that this petition should not

be used as a means to add charges, not related to usage, to individuals or Hoosier small

businesses that have been severely affected during this pandemic.

In conversations with Hoosiers from House District 52, there is a clear concern that this

petition could lead to an eventual increase in utility rates at their expense. While this may or may

not be the case, their concerns are reasonable and their desire for assurances that it will not is

equally reasonable. Regardless, I understand that Indiana's utility companies would like to be

made whole after suffering many losses during this pandemic, however, so would every other

negatively affected person or business, many of whom will not be able to reenter the market or

have lost everything.

Again, thank you for all that you and the rest of the IURC has done in service to our state.

I hope that you continue to keep our citizens at the front of your mind as we all try to recover. If

you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 317-232-9620 or

h52@iga.in.gov.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Smaltz

State Representative

House District 52

Sponsors: Council Members Robert Gard.a imd Kenneth Monroe

Resolution No. 20-000_6

A RESOLUTION OF THE COl'v1MON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST CffiCAGO, INDIANA OPPOSING THE NIPSCO AND INVESTORgowmm UTILITIES' REQUEST FOR

A CUSTOMER RATE INCREASE TO RECOVER REVENUE LOST DURING CORONAVIRUSPANDE~IlC

WHEREAS, on Ma.y 4, 2020 NIPSCO and five (5) other investor-owned utility companies filed a petition with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) requesting authorization to calculate coronavirus "pandemic-related costs" in order to recover such costs from customers via a later state approved t'ate increase;

WHEREAS, NIPSCO and the other regulated utilities seek approval to separately calculate and recover costs incurred for suspending disconnects, reconnecting customers without deposits and reconnect fees, extending customer debt payments, waiving late payment fees and lost revenue due to commercial and industrial load reductions during the current coronavirus pandemic;

WHEREAS, NIPSCO and the utilities seek recovery of these lost revenues thru customer rate hikes at a time when unemployment has reached Great Depression leveL"l and East Chicago residents are struggling to pay life necessities due to furloughs, layoffs and pay cuts.

WHEREAS, the Common Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the City of East Chicago that it petition the illRC to deny this requested rate increase

NOW, THEREFORE1 BE IT RESOLVED as follows:

L That the Common Cmmcil of the City of East Chicago, Indiana hereby calls upon the Utility Regulatory Commission to deny this requested rate increase and instead put in place further disconnect tnoratoriUIDll and other utility consumer protection measures needed until this economic and public health crisis has ended.

2. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit a fully executed copy of this resolution to IURC chamnan Jim Huston at PNC Center, 101 W. Washington Street, Suite 1500E, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

ADOPTED by the East Chicago Common Coul:lcil on jis .2.~ of May, 2020. ; , J.✓

·, ,,. ·-~ ROBERT GARCIA President, Common Council City of East Chicago

Adrian A. Santos

City Clerk ?8 rf'-r'""'\.~ P, SENTED by me to the Mayor for his approval and signature on ~-' day of

./.!_!__/.2mo. ~- ~

( Adrian A. Santos City Clerk

ANTHONY COPELAND Mayor City of East Chicago

2

STATE OF INDIANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THIRD FLOOR STATE HOUSE INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA 46204

CHERRISH S. PRYOR

Democratic Floor Leader 200 West Washington Street

Indianapolis, IN 46204 _________________________________

COMMITTEES:

WAYS AND MEANS

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

June 25, 2020 The Honorable Eric Holcomb 200 West Washington Street Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 Dear Governor Holcomb, As the pandemic continues to impact our economy, I am concerned that the June 30th expiration of the utilities disconnect moratorium will further harm households across the state. While the state is moving forward with re-opening, DWD continues to process a large volume of first-time unemployment claims and will continue to do so for several months as workers and business owners grapple with the recession. It is important to keep in mind what we know about COVID-19 and how it is spread. Health officials consistently state the importance of washing hands and sanitizing surfaces. It would be impossible for families that don’t have utilities to do these basic functions. Meaning the spread of the virus will overwhelm those households and potentially anyone they may come in contact with. It would be inhumane to allow services to be turned off during this pandemic. Additionally, in the IURC's order to investigate the petitions filed by the OUCC and utility companies the Commission noted that "…it would be unreasonable to expect that the financial, health, and other hardships currently being experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic would immediately disappear upon expiration of any public health declaration or disconnection moratorium.” The expiration of the moratorium is not reflective of the economic reality that many Hoosiers are facing, especially in Black and Latino communities where unemployment rates are higher and confidence in being able to pay rent is lower according to Prosperity Indiana and U.S. Census data. In the coming weeks, households will be destabilized by looming eviction proceedings and the loss of utilities that support their lives. Allowing utilities to disconnect will impact education at home, working from home, job searching online, and bring other effects that will only exacerbate financial hardship. In addition to extending the moratoria on utilities disconnect and evictions, I would welcome the opportunity to work with you and your administration to develop sweeping plans and programs to assist Hoosiers in keeping them in their housing and with their utilities connected. Sincerely, Cherrish S. Pryor, Democratic Floor Leader State Representative House District 94

Cc: Chairman Jim Huston, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Anthony Swinger, Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor Kerwin Olson, Citizens Action Coalition Indiana Black Legislative Caucus

Dennis B. Buckley, Mayor James W. Coffman, Clerk Treasurer

June 22, 2020

Secretary of the Commission Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission PNC Center 101 West Washington Street, Suite 1500 E Indianapolis, IN 46204

Re: Utility Rate Increases

Dear Commission,

beech grove

806 Main Street Beech Grove, Indiana 46107

(317) 803-9111 www.beechgrove.com

I have had several citizens approach me concerned about public utilities asking for a rate increase due to the losses incurred from COVID-19 virus. These same citizens have also suffered their own personal loss over the past four months due to the COVID-19 virus.

On behalf of the citizens of Beech Grove, I ask that you vote to deny any increase from any public utility that may be presented to you as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

Thank you for your time and consideration .

Respectfully,

~-B,-1,111•~ Dennis B. Buckley Mayor City of Beech Grove

O FFICE OF THE MAYOR

~LOYD WINNECKE

June 9, 2020

CITY OF EVANSVILLE ONE N.W. M A RT I N L U T HER K I N G : J R . BLVD . • ROO M 302

EVAN SV I LLE , I N DI ANA 4 7708-1833

(812) 4 36- 4 962 • F A X (8 12) 4 36- 4 966 • TDD/TTY (812) 436-4928

www.evansville.in.gov

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission 101 West Washington Street Suite 1500 E Indianapolis, IN 46204

RE: Cause #45377

Dear Members of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission,

I'm writing to offer the City of Evansville's strong opposition to the request by Vectren, and other Indiana utilities, to recoup lost revenue as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The prospect of charging customers for power never generated, lost late fees, deposits and connection fees is grossly unfair.

As the mayor of city owned utility (Evansville Water and Sewer Utility), I am well aware of the financial strain brought on by the world-wide health crisis. We, too, have experienced an extraordinary loss of revenue, and yet we would never propose raising rates to make up for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income. In fact, we'll be taking great care in making special payment accommodations for the approximately 2,300 EWSU customers who have been unable to pay their bills, and would have otherwise been disconnected, because of COVID-19. I urge other Hoosier utilities to make similar efforts, as citizens across the state do their best to regain financial stability.

Furthermore, I think it's fair to note that state and local government are prohibited from using FEMA or CARES Act funding as revenue replacement, so I don't understand how other utilities should burden ratepayers with revenue issues, however dramatic, caused by the pandemic.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Regards,

LW:au

Cc: Indiana Office of Consumer Counselor

From: Konisky, David [mailto:dkonisky@indiana.edu] Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 4:37 PM To: Heater, Ryan J <RyHeater@urc.IN.gov> Subject: energy insecurity among low-income Indiana households

**** This is an EXTERNAL email. Exercise caution. DO NOT open attachments or click links from unknown senders or unexpected email. ****

Dear Mr. Heater, I am writing to share results of recent research that I have completed with colleagues at the O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, Bloomington. Our team is studying the problem of energy insecurity, or the inability of households to meet their energy demands or to pay their energy bills. This was a pervasive problem for millions of families before the COVID-19 pandemic, and its prevalence has only increased with the economic dislocation created by the shutdowns. For your interest, I have attached a summary of preliminary findings from our survey of low-income Indiana households. Among the key results:

15% indicated that they could not pay an energy bill during the prior month, 13% received a shutoff notice, and 4% had their service disconnected.

30% indicated that they had to reduce or forgo expenses for basic household needs, such as medicine or food, to pay an energy bill.

Over 21% of households with income at or below the poverty line did not pay their energy bill last month, compared to 15% of households with income between 100-150% FPL, and 9% of households with income between 150-200% FPL.

Households not paying their energy bill last month are more likely to be: at or below poverty line, people of color, households with children under 5 years of age, households with at least one person age 65 and older, households with one or people with a disability, households with someone requiring use of an electronic medical device, and in households where someone either lost their job or had their hours reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic.

We think these findings are especially timely, as the IURC considers further actions on utility disconnection moratoria, and as the state more generally considers its energy future. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. We'd be happy to share more about our survey, and tell you about our plans for the future which include tracking this problem over the next year. Please also feel free to share this email and report with your team and others that you think might be interested. Sincerely,

David Konisky --- David Konisky Professor O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University, Bloomington https://blogs.iu.edu/konisky/

1

Survey of Household Energy Insecurity in Indiana in Time of COVID Preliminary Results of Wave-1

June 30, 2020

Energy Insecurity in the United States Energy insecurity, the inability to meet your energy demands or pay your energy bills, is a pervasive problem among low-income households in Indiana. When families cannot afford to keep their lights on or homes at comfortable temperatures, their mental and physical well-being is more likely to suffer, especially in households with young children and disabled individuals. Prior to 2020, energy insecurity was expected to worsen due to the adoption of energy policies that will likely increase electricity prices, coupled with the increased incidences of heat waves and cold spells resulting from climate change that lead to surges in energy demand. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic presents an unprecedented challenge for low-income populations, especially energy insecure Indiana households. As unemployment continues to rise and protections fade or disappear, many will have little to no social safety net. Much of this population already lives paycheck to paycheck; therefore, this sudden lack of income will make it difficult to afford monthly expenses, including rent, groceries, and energy bills. Moreover, as people continue to stay at home through the hot summer months, they will need energy for essential services, including air conditioning, refrigeration, cooking, and powering electronic and medical devices. The combination of increasing energy demands with a reduction in income will likely exacerbate low-income Hoosiers’ energy burden and move a whole new population of households into energy insecurity. The Survey of Household Energy Insecurity in Time of COVID The survey was administered to a representative sample of Indiana households at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The survey was administered online from April 30 through June 2, 2020 on behalf of an Indiana University research team, by YouGov, a private polling and market research firm. The survey was taken by 2,000 respondents, and responses have a margin of error of about 2%. It included questions about energy expenses, household energy behavior, and activities since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

2

Summary of Key Findings Among Indiana households responding to the Survey of Household Energy Insecurity in Time of COVID:

● 15% indicated that they could not pay an energy bill during the prior month, 13% received a shutoff notice, and 4% had their service disconnected.

● 30% indicated that they had to reduce or forgo expenses for basic household needs, such as medicine or food, to pay an energy bill.

● Over 21% of households with income at or below the poverty line did not pay their energy bill last month, compared to 15% of households with income between 100-150% FPL, and 9% of households with income between 150-200% FPL.

● Households not paying their energy bill last month are more likely to be: at or below poverty line, people of color, households with children under 5 years of age, households with at least one person age 65 and older, households with one or people with a disability, households with someone requiring use of an electronic medical device, and in households where someone either lost their job or had their hours reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic:

● 31% of respondents indicated negative job experiences as a result of the pandemic: 11% had lost their jobs, 13% had their hours reduced, and 7% were furloughed without pay.

● 13% of respondents lost their health insurance and an additional 7% had their health insurance benefits reduced.

● Over 15% of respondents indicated that they were not paying their rent or mortgage at all, and an additional 10% indicated that they were making only partial payments.

● Over 43% of respondents indicated that it had harmed their ability to seek medical care.

● 32% of respondents indicated that it had harmed their ability to feed their family.

3

Detailed Results Energy bill payment, shutoff notices, and disconnections The survey asked respondents about their ability to pay their energy bill during the last month, as well as whether they had received a shutoff notice and/or had been disconnected from service. About 15% of respondents indicated that they could not pay an energy bill during the prior month, almost 13% received a shutoff notice, and almost 4% had their service disconnected.

Had to reduce or forgo expenses last month to pay an energy bill The survey asked respondents whether their household in the past month had to reduce or forgo expenses for basic household needs, such as medicine or food, to pay an energy bill. Approximately 30% of the households responded that they did have to reduce or forgo other basic needs in the past month to pay their energy bill.

."l C: Q) 1:l C: 0 C. U) Q)

0:: 0 Q) Cl

"' c Q)

" <ii 0..

Energy Bill Payment, Shutoff Notices, and Disconnections in Last Month 0

"°

0 N

15.3

12.7

0

3.7

0

• Received a notice • Disconnected

In the past month, did your household reduce or forego expenses for basic household necessities, such as medicine or food, in order to pay an energy bill?

0

~ 0 a,

0 U) 00

c Q) 0

1:l t--70.3

C: 0 0 C. U) <D Q)

0:: 0

0 "' c 0 Q) "" e 0 Q)

0.. "° 0 N

0

0 Yes No

4

Income of households not paying energy bill last month Households with income at or below the poverty line were more likely to be unable to pay their energy bill last month (21%), compared to 15% of households with income between 100-150% FPL, and 9% of households with income between 150-200% FPL.

Employment status during COVID-19 pandemic Nearly a third of respondents indicated that, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they had lost their jobs (11%), had their hours reduced (14%), or were furloughed without pay (7%). An additional 3% were furloughed with pay and about 4% noted that they had opted not to work at all. At-risk populations Households not paying their energy bill last month are more likely to be at or below poverty line, people of color, households with children under 5 years of age, households with at least one person age 65 and older, and households with one or people with a disability, households with someone requiring use of an electronic medical device, and in households where someone either lost their job or had their hours reduced since the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill?

100% FPL or below 21.4

100%-150% FPL

150%-200% FPL

0 10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

How has your employment status changed during the COVID-19 pandemic?

Reduced hours at job

Furloughed with pay

Furloughed without pay

Lost employment

Re-entered the workforce

Decided not to work

My employment status did not

change

Other

0 10 20 30

50.4

40 50 60 70 80 90 Percent of Respondents

100

5

In the past month, household received a shutoff notice?

100% FPL or below 18.0

100%-150% FPL

150%-200% FPL

0 10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill?

Wh ite

Black

Hispanic

Asian

Native American

Mixed

Other

0

14.6

22.2

28.1

10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill?

Male

Female 17.0

0 10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill?

No chi ldren under 5

One child under 5 22.9

Two children under 5

Three+ children under 5

0 10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

6

Health insurance loss since start of COVID-19 pandemic

Approximately 13% of respondents lost their health insurance since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and another 7% had their health insurance benefits reduced. An additional 25% of the respondents did not have health insurance before the pandemic started.

In the past month, household could not pay an energy b ill? In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill,

No adults over 65 No disabled individuals

One adult over 65 One disabled individual

Two adults over 65 Two disabled individuals

Three+ adults over 65 36.0 Three+ disabled individuals 33.8

0 10 20 30 40 0 10 20 30 40

Percentage of Respondents Percentage of Respondents

In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill? In the past month, household could not pay an energy bill?

Use device 26.0

Not use device

0 10 20

Percentage of Respondents

Retained job

Loss job or reduced hours 26.0

30 0 10 20 30

Percentage of Respondents

Due to your changed employment status during the COVI0-19 pandemic, did you lose your health insurance?

Yes, l i~a7'~ insurance

No, but my employer put me

on a less generous plan

No, my health insurance plan is the same as

before

I didn't have health

insurance before COVID-19

0 10 20 30

55.5

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent of Respondents

7

Inability to pay rent or mortgage since start of COVID-19 pandemic

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 15% of respondents indicated that they were not paying their rent or mortgage at all, and an additional 10% indicated that they were making only partial payments.

Inability to seek medical care since start of COVID-19 pandemic About 43% of respondents agreed with a statement that the COVID-19 pandemic had harmed their ability to seek medical care.

How much of your monthly renVmortgage have you paid since the COVID-1 9 pandemic began?

Paying as normal

Paying at a partial amount

Not paying at all

0 10 20 30

74.4

40 50 60 70 80 Percent of Respondents

Has COVID-19 harmed your abi lity to seek medical care?

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

0 10 20

25.2

24.2

30 40 50 60 70 80 Percent of Respondents

90 100

90 100

8

Inability to feed family since start of COVID-19 pandemic Approximately 32% of respondents agreed with a statement that the COVID-19 pandemic had harmed their ability to feed their family.

Demographic comparison between Indiana and the United States of those not paying energy bill last month

Has COVID-19 harmed your ability to feed my family?

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

32.3

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Percent of Respondents

Household could not pay an energy bill

White _ _____ .....___ __ _,

Black ~======================::=======:::::: Hispanic ::==========================----. ~=================.-----~

Male ~================:: Female ~=================::::::===::::J

No Children Under 5 ::=============-=,....__, Chi ldren Under 5 ~===========================:::::::::::

No Disabled Household Members ::===============~ ~===============::--, Disabled Household Members ~==================::=====::::::

No Medical Device ~===::.::.::.-:.-:.-:..-:_-_-_-_-::;, _ _,

Medical Device E======================~===========:::: 100% FPL E================-==::::::'.:==::J

100-150% FPL E=======:;~======~=::::: 150-200% FPL t.::.::.::.-:..-:..-:...-:...-_-:_-_-_,~

0 10% 20%

In the Last Month USA

In the Last Month IN

30% 40%

9

About the Research Team This study was conducted by a research team at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, led by principal investigators David Konisky and Sanya Carley. The team studies energy justice issues that relate to the ongoing energy transition in the U.S. and across the world. This research effort was supported by grants provided by Indiana University’s Office of the Vice President of Research and the Environmental Resilience Institute. The lead authors can be contacted at dkonisky@indiana.edu and scarley@indiana.edu.