INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced Wednesday that he has appointed Abby Gray as the new Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor Commissioner to hopefully deal with the repeated increase in utility rates.
The governor also directed the office to evaluate utilities’ profits and find cost-saving measures to ease the financial burden on Hoosiers. Those measures include utilities’ investors bearing more of the costs of doing business rather than ratepayers. Governor Braun issued the following statement:
“Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We can’t take it anymore. I am directing the Utility Consumer Counselor, who is Indiana’s ratepayer advocate, to evaluate utilities’ profits along with other cost savings measures to ease the burden on ratepayers. I would also like to see the utilities’ investors bear more of the cost of doing business.”
Gray had this statement as a response to being named commissioner:
“I have dedicated my career to public service, and it’s the honor of a lifetime to continue to serve Indiana ratepayers in this new role. I am deeply humbled and appreciative of Governor Braun’s confidence in me and look forward to advocating for Indiana utility consumers.”
