> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.greeleysevansville.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Why are CenterPoint electric bills so high in Evansville? - URL: https://www.greeleysevansville.com/why-are-centerpoint-electric-bills-so-high-in-evansville/ - Published: 2026-09-06T00:11:01.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-06T00:36:30.000Z - Description: CenterPoint customers in Southwest Indiana pay some of Indiana’s highest residential electric bills. Greeley’s looks at why, who approved the rates, and where the money goes. - Author: Greeley's Staff - Tags: What Evansville Pays, Accountability, Living Stories ## THE 15-SECOND ANSWER CenterPoint Energy Indiana South is one of the most expensive regulated electric utilities in Indiana for residential customers. In the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s July 2026 survey, a CenterPoint customer using **1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)** of electricity had a monthly bill of **$224.90**. The average among the eight utilities included in the state survey was **$163.07**. Only NIPSCO was higher. That puts CenterPoint about **$62 a month above the survey average** at the 1,000-kWh usage level — roughly **$742 more over a year** if that difference remained the same each month. **Why it matters:** Greeley’s is going beyond the ranking to determine why Evansville-area customers pay more, who approved the rates, where the money goes, and what verifiable connections exist among the utility, regulators, elected officials and state government. ## WHAT DOES 1,000 kWh ACTUALLY MEAN? A kilowatt-hour measures how much electricity you use. Using **1,000 kWh in a month** works out to about **33 kWh per day**. For perspective, the average Indiana residential customer used about **901 kWh per month in 2024**, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. So 1,000 kWh is a useful comparison point for an ordinary household — particularly during months when heating or air conditioning increases electricity use. That electricity may be powering things such as: - refrigerator and freezer - lights - televisions and computers - internet equipment and chargers - washer and dryer - dishwasher - cooking appliances - electric water heater - central air conditioning - fans, pumps and other household equipment Heating and cooling can make a particularly large difference. For example, an air-conditioning system drawing about **3 kilowatts while running** would consume approximately **24 kWh if it accumulated eight hours of run time during a day**. Actual usage varies considerably depending on the system, weather, thermostat setting, insulation and how often the equipment cycles. Homes also differ because some use natural gas for heating, water heating or cooking while others rely more heavily on electricity. That is why Greeley’s will not rely on the 1,000-kWh figure alone. We will compare bills at several usage levels so readers can see what the differences mean for smaller households, typical homes and heavier-use customers. ## HOW EVANSVILLE COMPARES The IURC’s July 2026 survey allows an apples-to-apples comparison by calculating each utility’s residential bill at the same amount of electricity use. At **1,000 kWh per month**, the survey showed: - **CenterPoint Energy Indiana South — $224.90** - **NIPSCO — $230.15** - **Duke Energy Indiana — $167.11** - **AES Indiana — $166.04** - **Indiana Michigan Power / AEP — $162.37** At the same 1,000-kWh usage level, a CenterPoint customer paid approximately: - **$57.79 more than Duke** - **$58.86 more than AES** - **$62.53 more than Indiana Michigan Power** CenterPoint was second-highest among the utilities in the state survey, behind NIPSCO. But the size of the bill is only the beginning of the story. Greeley’s will examine **why CenterPoint’s rates are higher**, which costs regulators have allowed the company to recover from customers, how those decisions were made, and how Evansville’s electric costs have changed over time. ## **WHY IS CENTERPOINT SO MUCH HIGHER?** ### A large part of the answer is in the base rate CenterPoint’s higher bills are **not simply the result of one surcharge or fuel adjustment**. In the IURC’s July 2025 comparison, **$198.64 of a $220.72 bill at 1,000 kWh came from CenterPoint’s base-rate portion**, while $22.08 came from adjustable trackers. That means most of the unusually high bill was already built into the underlying rate structure. CenterPoint’s current base rates grew out of a major rate case filed in December 2023 — the utility’s **first general electric rate case in 14 years**. CenterPoint originally sought about **$118.8 million in additional annual revenue**. In February 2025, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a settlement allowing an **$80 million annual increase**, phased in through March 2026\. CenterPoint says much of the increase was tied to major new generation investments. In its own 2025 resource-planning documents, the company said about **80% of its requested increase was associated with new generation units**, including the Posey solar project and new natural-gas combustion turbines at the A.B. Brown site. But not everyone agreed that customers should pay the amount ultimately approved. The **Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor**, which represents consumers in utility cases, concluded that an increase of about **$48.3 million** was justified — substantially less than both CenterPoint’s original request and the $80 million settlement approved by the IURC. The OUCC said much of the justified increase resulted from major capital improvements that regulators had already approved in earlier cases. More than **2,300 consumer comments** were submitted in the case. The Evansville City Council and Citizens Action Coalition also intervened and were not parties to the settlement ultimately approved by the commission. **The question Greeley’s will keep pursuing:** Why did the approved amount land at $80 million, how did the underlying generation investments receive approval, and how much has each decision added to an Evansville household’s bill? ## WHO ACTUALLY SETS YOUR ELECTRIC RATE? CenterPoint **does not set residential electric rates by itself**. The utility files a formal request with the **Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)** asking to change its rates. The IURC reviews evidence from the utility, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, intervening parties and the public before issuing a final order. The **Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)** is a separate state agency that represents consumer interests in utility cases. In CenterPoint’s 2023–2025 electric rate case, the OUCC argued that an annual increase of about **$48.3 million** was justified. The settlement ultimately approved by the IURC allowed an approximately **$80 million annual increase**. ### WHO APPROVED THE 2025 CENTERPOINT RATE CASE? The final February 2025 CenterPoint order lists these five IURC commissioners as concurring: - **James F. Huston** - **Sarah E. Freeman** - **David E. Ziegner** - **Wesley R. Bennett** - **David E. Veleta** ### WAS SOUTHWEST INDIANA REPRESENTED? Greeley’s found **no Southwest Indiana resident among the five commissioners who approved the 2025 CenterPoint rate order**, based on their official IURC biographies. Their geographic backgrounds included: - **James Huston — Brownsburg** - **Sarah Freeman — Indianapolis** - **David Ziegner — Greenwood** - **David Veleta — Greenwood** - **Wesley Bennett — raised in Plainfield and closely associated with the Plainfield/Avon area** Those communities are in **Central Indiana**, not the CenterPoint electric service territory concentrated around Evansville and Southwest Indiana. That does **not** establish that the commission treated Southwest Indiana unfairly or that commissioners failed to consider the interests of Evansville-area customers. But it raises a legitimate question for Greeley’s to keep examining: **Who is represented geographically on the state body making decisions that directly affect Southwest Indiana utility bills?** ### SOUTHWEST INDIANA NOW HAS A COMMISSIONER That changed in **January 2026**, when Gov. Mike Braun appointed **Bob Deig of Evansville** to the IURC. Deig previously served on the: - Posey County Council - Posey County Commission - Vanderburgh County Council - Indiana State Senate As a state senator, Deig represented **Posey, Gibson and Vanderburgh counties**. His official IURC biography says he resides in **Evansville**. Deig therefore gives Southwest Indiana direct geographic representation on the commission today. However, he **was not a member of the IURC when CenterPoint’s 2025 rate increase was approved**. Deig’s official biography also says he has worked in several energy-related positions, including work involving Indiana’s statewide energy-efficiency program and electric, gas, steam, water and wastewater issues. Those professional connections do not imply wrongdoing. They are part of the public record Greeley’s will document as we examine the backgrounds and relationships of the people involved in utility regulation. ### THE COMMISSION HAS CHANGED The five-member IURC today is not the same panel that approved CenterPoint’s 2025 rate case. As of 2026, the IURC lists: - **Anthony Swinger — Chairman** - **Joshua Bain — Commissioner** - **Bob Deig — Commissioner** - **Joby Jerrells — Commissioner** - **David Ziegner — Commissioner** Greeley’s will track who appointed each commissioner, their professional backgrounds, where they are from, previous government or utility-related employment, and any other verifiable connections relevant to decisions affecting Southwest Indiana customers. ### WHY THIS MATTERS An Evansville electric bill is shaped by more than decisions made inside CenterPoint. It is also affected by a state regulatory system whose commissioners are appointed by Indiana governors and whose decisions determine which utility costs may ultimately be recovered from customers. Greeley’s will therefore follow both sides of the process: **CenterPoint asks → consumer advocates respond → regulators decide → customers pay.** And we will keep asking: **Who made the decision?** **Who appointed them?** **Where are they from?** **What experience and relationships do they bring to the job?** **What reasons did they give for their decision?** **What does the public record show?** ## THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE 2025 DECISION The five commissioners who approved CenterPoint’s 2025 electric rate case were not all selected by one governor or one administration. Their appointment histories span several Indiana governors and both major political parties. ### JAMES F. HUSTON Jim Huston was first appointed to the IURC by **Gov. Mike Pence in 2014**. Gov. Eric Holcomb reappointed him in **2017 and 2021** and named him commission chairman in 2018. Before joining the IURC, Huston held a number of state and federal government positions, including work in the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the Indiana Treasurer’s Office and congressional offices. He lived in **Brownsburg** while serving on the commission. ### SARAH E. FREEMAN Sarah Freeman was appointed to the IURC by **Gov. Mike Pence in 2016** and later reappointed by **Gov. Eric Holcomb**. Before becoming a commissioner, Freeman spent years as an attorney with Indiana’s nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, where her work included drafting utility and transportation legislation and advising legislative committees. She lived in **Indianapolis**. ### DAVID E. ZIEGNER David Ziegner has the longest regulatory history of the group. He was first appointed to the IURC in **1990 by Gov. Evan Bayh** and was subsequently reappointed by governors from both political parties, including Frank O’Bannon, Mitch Daniels, Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb. Before becoming a commissioner, Ziegner worked for Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency on utility and regulatory issues and also served as general counsel for the IURC. He lives in **Greenwood**. ### WESLEY R. BENNETT Wesley Bennett was appointed to the IURC by **Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2023**. Before joining the commission, Bennett served as commissioner of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance and previously spent 12 years as the elected clerk-treasurer of Plainfield. His professional background also included banking, insurance, investments, sales and commercial lending. His background is closely associated with **Plainfield and the Central Indiana area**. ### DAVID E. VELETA David Veleta was appointed to the IURC by **Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2022** and reappointed in 2024. Before becoming a commissioner, Veleta worked inside the IURC as a senior administrative law judge. Earlier in his career he served as a Marion County deputy prosecutor and worked in private law practice. He lived in **Greenwood**. ### WHAT THE APPOINTMENT HISTORY SHOWS The commission that approved CenterPoint’s rate case was built over decades. It included commissioners originally appointed by: - Democratic Gov. Evan Bayh - Republican Gov. Mike Pence - Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb Several had also been reappointed by governors from both parties. That is important context. Greeley’s will not describe CenterPoint regulation as the product of one governor, one political party or one administration when the public record shows a longer and more complicated history. At the same time, none of the five commissioners who approved the 2025 CenterPoint order was based in Southwest Indiana. ### WHO PRESENTED CENTERPOINT’S CASE? On the utility side, **Richard C. Leger**, then CenterPoint Energy Indiana South’s Senior Vice President for Indiana Electric, provided the company’s opening testimony explaining the rate request and its major drivers. CenterPoint sought approximately **$118.8 million in additional annual revenue** when it filed the case in December 2023. Leger’s sworn testimony said he had worked for CenterPoint since 2001 and had previously held a variety of utility positions, including regulatory-affairs roles before becoming Senior Vice President for Indiana Electric. CenterPoint supported its case with testimony from numerous additional witnesses covering subjects such as: - finances - generation - transmission and distribution - capital investment - information technology - depreciation - rate design - return on equity The IURC ultimately approved a settlement allowing an approximately **$80 million annual increase**, rather than CenterPoint’s full original request. ### CENTERPOINT’S LEADERSHIP TODAY CenterPoint’s Indiana organization has changed since the rate case was filed. **Mike Roeder** is now President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana, overseeing the company’s Indiana electric and natural-gas operations, customer service, policy work and community engagement. Roeder is an **Evansville native** and has worked for CenterPoint and predecessor companies for more than two decades. CenterPoint’s current Indiana regulatory team also includes **Heather Watts, Vice President of Regulatory Services**. At the corporate level, **Jason M. Ryan** serves as Executive Vice President for Regulatory Services and Government Affairs. Those roles are important because Greeley’s is not only examining who formally voted on utility rates. We will also identify the people responsible for: - requesting regulatory approval - presenting the utility’s case - working with regulators - handling government affairs - shaping utility policy - communicating with state and local officials ### WHAT GREELEY’S WILL CHECK For the people on both sides of the process, Greeley’s will examine verifiable public records involving: - previous government employment - previous utility employment - movement between government and the utility industry - lobbying registrations - campaign contributions - political action committees - trade associations - board memberships - consulting and legal relationships - appointments - gifts or travel disclosures when publicly available - recusals - public statements - meetings and testimony A professional relationship, contribution, appointment or job change does **not** by itself demonstrate improper influence. Greeley’s will report the connection, the dates, the amounts and the people involved — and will not claim that one caused another unless evidence supports that conclusion. ## LOBBYING, CAMPAIGN MONEY & VERIFIED CONNECTIONS CenterPoint does not participate in Indiana government only through formal utility rate cases. Public records show the company also maintains a lobbying operation and a political action committee. Those activities are legal and common among large corporations. Their existence does not show that a rate decision, appointment or law was improperly influenced. But they are relevant public records when trying to understand who has access to state decision-makers, who works on utility legislation and where political money goes. ### CENTERPOINT LOBBIES IN INDIANA The Indiana Lobby Registration Commission’s 2025 records list **CenterPoint Energy** as an employer of registered lobbyists. The company’s listed lobbying representation included: - **Barnes & Thornburg LLP** - **Flint Consulting LLC** - **Joey Fox Consulting LLC** - **Michael F. Roeder** - **Laurie K. Thornton** Michael Roeder, who is now President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana, was therefore also listed as one of the company’s registered Indiana lobbyists. The state’s 2026 roster again lists CenterPoint with: - **Barnes & Thornburg LLP** - **Flint Consulting LLC** - **Michael F. Roeder** - **Laurie K. Thornton** Greeley’s will examine which bills, policies and government matters these lobbyists worked on when records make that information available. ### CENTERPOINT ALSO HAS A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE CenterPoint Energy maintains a political action committee known as the **CenterPoint Energy, Inc. Political Action Committee**. Federal Election Commission records identify it as a qualified corporate PAC and a lobbyist/registrant PAC. CenterPoint executive **Michael Roeder** has also disclosed that he serves on the CenterPoint Energy PAC board. That creates a documented connection between CenterPoint’s Indiana leadership, its lobbying operation and its political-action activity. It does **not** establish that political contributions affected any utility decision. ### THE PAC GIVES TO INDIANA POLITICS CenterPoint PAC filings show political contributions involving Indiana candidates and political organizations. A 2025 filing included contributions such as: - **Indiana House Democratic Caucus — $300** - **Indiana House Republican Campaign Committee — $10,000** - **Jean Leising for State Senate — $1,000** - **Citizens for Jeff Thompson — $1,000** - **Friends to Elect Vaneta Becker — $500** The filing therefore shows contributions involving **both Republican and Democratic political organizations**, rather than supporting a simple conclusion that CenterPoint’s political activity is tied exclusively to one party. These examples are only part of the record. Greeley’s will build a more complete Indiana contribution history rather than selecting a few donations that support a predetermined narrative. ### WHY LEGISLATIVE MONEY MATTERS The IURC decides individual utility cases, but the **Indiana General Assembly writes the laws under which utilities and regulators operate**. That means campaign contributions to legislators can be relevant context when those legislators: - chair utility committees - sponsor major energy legislation - vote on utility regulation - change the rules governing cost recovery - authorize trackers or infrastructure programs - change consumer protections - establish state energy policy Campaign money does not prove that a legislator’s vote was purchased or influenced. The relevant question is whether there is a documented connection worth understanding. For each significant utility law, Greeley’s will attempt to show: **Who wrote the bill?** **Who sponsored it?** **Who voted for and against it?** **What did they say the bill would accomplish?** **Did CenterPoint or other utilities lobby on the issue?** **Did relevant legislators receive utility-industry campaign contributions?** **When were those contributions made compared with the legislative action?** ### THE GOVERNOR CONNECTION The governor does not personally decide a CenterPoint rate case. But Indiana governors appoint the members of the IURC. That means Greeley’s will also examine: - which governor appointed each commissioner - campaign contributions involving utility interests and gubernatorial political organizations - utility lobbying involving the governor’s administration - appointments of people with utility or regulatory backgrounds - subsequent employment of former government officials - any other documented relationship relevant to utility policy Again, an appointment, contribution or professional connection does not establish improper influence. ### THE REVOLVING-DOOR QUESTION Greeley’s will also look for movement between: **utilities → government** and **government → utilities** including: - IURC staff or commissioners - governor’s-office employees - legislators and legislative staff - state energy officials - utility executives - lobbyists - law firms - consultants - industry associations When a crossover exists, Greeley’s will document: **the person** **their former job** **their new job** **the dates** **the decisions or issues they worked on** and **the original public-record source.** A career move alone is not evidence of wrongdoing. ### THE STANDARD GREELEY’S WILL USE Greeley’s will not publish a list of political donations and imply corruption. We will instead build a documented chain: **money or relationship → date → person or organization → government role → relevant decision → public explanation** Then we will tell readers what the evidence establishes — and what it does not. If no evidence links a contribution or relationship to a particular decision, we will say so. The goal is not to prove a theory. The goal is to make the public record visible. ## WHAT YOU’RE ACTUALLY PAYING FOR A CenterPoint electric bill is not one single charge. The amount a household pays is built from several pieces that can change at different times and for different reasons. ### BASE RATES Base rates pay for the utility’s underlying cost of providing electric service. They include costs associated with things such as: - power plants and generation - transmission and distribution equipment - employees and operations - maintenance - depreciation - financing costs - an authorized return for investors CenterPoint’s 2025 general rate case changed these underlying base rates. In the IURC’s 2025 residential bill survey, a CenterPoint bill at **1,000 kWh** totaled **$220.72 before taxes**. Of that amount: - **$198.64 came from the base-rate portion** - **$22.08 came from adjustable trackers** That is important because it shows that CenterPoint’s relatively high residential bill was not caused only by temporary surcharges or fuel adjustments. Much of the cost was already embedded in the underlying rate structure. ### TRACKERS AND RIDERS Utilities can also collect certain approved costs through separate adjustments commonly called **trackers or riders**. These charges can rise or fall between major base-rate cases. Depending on the program, trackers may recover approved costs involving: - fuel and purchased power - transmission - infrastructure improvements - environmental requirements - energy-efficiency programs - renewable-energy projects - other costs authorized under Indiana law Each tracker has its own regulatory proceeding and approval process. That means a customer’s electric bill can change even when CenterPoint is not asking for a completely new set of base rates. ### CUSTOMER AND USAGE CHARGES A residential bill can also contain a fixed customer charge that applies regardless of how much electricity is used. The remainder of the bill generally increases as electricity consumption increases. That is why two CenterPoint customers can pay very different monthly totals even though they are served under the same rate schedule. ### TAXES ARE ANOTHER LAYER The IURC comparison figures Greeley’s is using **exclude taxes** so utilities can be compared on the same basis. An actual household bill may therefore be higher than the figures shown in the state survey. ### WHY THIS MATTERS When someone says, “CenterPoint raised my rate,” there may be several different things happening. The change could come from: **a new base rate** **an adjustable tracker** **higher electricity use** **a new approved utility investment** or **a combination of those factors.** Greeley’s will separate those pieces rather than treating every increase as the same thing. ### NEXT: A REAL EVANSVILLE BILL As this Living Story develops, Greeley’s plans to break down an actual CenterPoint residential bill line by line. For each charge, we want to answer: **What is this charge?** **Who approved it?** **When was it approved?** **How much does it add to the bill?** **What is the money supposed to pay for?** **Is the charge temporary or permanent?** That will let readers see not just **how much they pay**, but **why they pay it**. In the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s July 2026 survey, a CenterPoint customer using **1,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh)** of electricity had a monthly bill of **$224.90**. Only NIPSCO was higher, at **$230.15**. The average among **all eight utilities in the state survey** was **$163.07**, but that figure includes three municipal utilities whose ownership and cost structures differ from CenterPoint. Among Indiana’s **five large investor-owned utilities**, the average bill at 1,000 kWh was **$190.12**. That means CenterPoint was: - **$34.78 a month above the investor-owned utility average** - about **$417 more over a year** if that monthly difference remained constant - roughly **$58 to $63 more per month** than Duke Energy Indiana, AES Indiana and Indiana Michigan Power at the same usage level Those comparisons exclude taxes and represent a snapshot of rates in effect on **July 1, 2026**. Greeley’s will show both kinds of comparisons when useful, but will give greater weight to utilities with similar ownership and regulatory structures so readers are not given a misleading comparison. ## WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE CAN MEAN OVER A YEAR A monthly utility-rate difference may not look dramatic until it is added up over time. If a household used **1,000 kWh every month for a full year**, the July 2026 IURC rates would work out to approximately: - **CenterPoint Energy Indiana South — $2,698.80 per year** - **NIPSCO — $2,761.80** - **Duke Energy Indiana — $2,005.32** - **AES Indiana — $1,992.48** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $1,948.44** At that constant usage level, a CenterPoint customer would pay approximately: - **$693 more per year than Duke** - **$706 more than AES** - **$750 more than Indiana Michigan Power** Compared with the average of Indiana’s five large investor-owned utilities, CenterPoint would be about **$417 higher over the year**. ### THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION — NOT A TYPICAL ANNUAL BILL Most households do **not** use exactly 1,000 kWh every month. Electricity use can rise sharply during hot summers or cold winters and fall during milder months. Homes also differ because of: - square footage - insulation - number of occupants - thermostat settings - appliance efficiency - electric versus natural-gas heating - electric water heating - home age - work-from-home patterns So these annual figures should not be read as a prediction of what any particular household will pay. They answer a narrower question: **If two households used exactly the same amount of electricity, how much difference could the utility’s rates make over a year?** For an Evansville-area household, that difference can amount to **hundreds of dollars annually**. That is why Greeley’s will continue comparing rates at multiple usage levels and, when possible, against actual annual household consumption. ## WHAT THAT DIFFERENCE CAN MEAN OVER A YEAR A monthly utility-rate difference may not look dramatic until it is added up over time. If a household used **1,000 kWh every month for a full year**, the July 2026 IURC rates would work out to approximately: - **CenterPoint Energy Indiana South — $2,698.80 per year** - **NIPSCO — $2,761.80** - **Duke Energy Indiana — $2,005.32** - **AES Indiana — $1,992.48** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $1,948.44** At that constant usage level, a CenterPoint customer would pay approximately: - **$693 more per year than Duke** - **$706 more than AES** - **$750 more than Indiana Michigan Power** Compared with the average of Indiana’s five large investor-owned utilities, CenterPoint would be about **$417 higher over the year**. ### THIS IS AN ILLUSTRATION — NOT A TYPICAL ANNUAL BILL Most households do **not** use exactly 1,000 kWh every month. Electricity use can rise sharply during hot summers or cold winters and fall during milder months. Homes also differ because of: - square footage - insulation - number of occupants - thermostat settings - appliance efficiency - electric versus natural-gas heating - electric water heating - home age - work-from-home patterns So these annual figures should not be read as a prediction of what any particular household will pay. They answer a narrower question: **If two households used exactly the same amount of electricity, how much difference could the utility’s rates make over a year?** For an Evansville-area household, that difference can amount to **hundreds of dollars annually**. That is why Greeley’s will continue comparing rates at multiple usage levels and, when possible, against actual annual household consumption. ## HOW CENTERPOINT COMPARES AT DIFFERENT USAGE LEVELS Not every household uses 1,000 kWh per month. A smaller apartment may use much less, while a larger home with electric heating, heavy air-conditioning use or more occupants may use much more. The IURC’s July 2026 survey compares bills at four usage levels: ### 500 kWh — LOWER ELECTRICITY USE At 500 kWh per month: - **CenterPoint — $118.11** - **Duke — $98.02** - **AES — $94.42** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $89.02** - **NIPSCO — $122.08** CenterPoint was about **$20 to $29 higher** than Duke, AES and Indiana Michigan Power at this lower usage level. ### 1,000 kWh — A USEFUL MID-RANGE COMPARISON At 1,000 kWh per month: - **CenterPoint — $224.90** - **Duke — $167.11** - **AES — $166.04** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $162.37** - **NIPSCO — $230.15** CenterPoint was about **$58 to $63 higher** than Duke, AES and Indiana Michigan Power. ### 1,500 kWh — HEAVIER ELECTRICITY USE At 1,500 kWh per month: - **CenterPoint — $331.68** - **Duke — $229.84** - **AES — $237.66** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $233.09** - **NIPSCO — $338.23** At this level, CenterPoint was about **$94 to $102 higher per month** than Duke, AES and Indiana Michigan Power. ### 2,000 kWh — VERY HIGH ELECTRICITY USE At 2,000 kWh per month: - **CenterPoint — $438.47** - **Duke — $292.57** - **AES — $309.28** - **Indiana Michigan Power — $303.80** - **NIPSCO — $446.31** At this usage level, CenterPoint was approximately **$129 to $146 higher per month** than Duke, AES and Indiana Michigan Power. ### THE GAP GETS LARGER AS USAGE RISES One of the clearest findings in the state data is that the dollar difference between CenterPoint and several other major Indiana utilities grows as electricity use increases. That means households with heavier electricity use can feel the rate difference much more sharply than lower-use households. This may particularly matter for homes that rely heavily on electricity for: - air conditioning - electric heating - electric water heating - clothes drying - larger households - older or less-efficient homes Greeley’s will continue comparing the rates at multiple usage levels rather than relying on a single “average bill.” The goal is to help readers answer a simple question: **At the amount of electricity I actually use, how does CenterPoint compare?**CAN YOU DO ANYTHING ABOUT A HIGH CENTERPOINT BILL? You cannot choose a different regulated electric utility for your home in CenterPoint’s Indiana service territory. But there are still several things customers can control or investigate. ### 1\. CHECK WHETHER YOUR USAGE CHANGED A higher bill does not always mean the rate changed. Log into your CenterPoint account and compare your electricity use with: - the previous month - the same month last year - unusually hot or cold weather - changes in household occupancy - new appliances - longer air-conditioning or heating use The most useful number to compare is **kWh used**, not just the dollar amount of the bill. ### 2\. LOOK AT THE RATE AND TRACKER CHARGES CenterPoint bills include base-rate charges and separate adjustments that can change over time. If the bill increased even though electricity use stayed about the same, Greeley’s recommends checking whether any rate or tracker changed. As this Living Story develops, Greeley’s will build a line-by-line explanation of a real CenterPoint bill so readers can identify which charges changed and why. ### 3\. ASK ABOUT PAYMENT OPTIONS CenterPoint currently offers several bill-management options for Indiana customers, including: - payment arrangements - payment extensions - levelized billing - bill-assistance programs Levelized billing can make monthly payments more predictable by spreading seasonal highs and lows across the year. It does **not** reduce the total cost of electricity, but it may make budgeting easier. ### 4\. CHECK ENERGY-ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS Income-qualified customers may be eligible for federal or state energy assistance. CenterPoint also operates a **Customer Assistance Fund** that may help some Indiana customers who do not qualify for traditional public assistance. The company says the fund is available to qualifying Southwest Indiana electric customers during the summer cooling season and to qualifying Indiana customers for winter heating assistance. Eligibility rules and funding can change, so customers should verify current requirements before applying. ### 5\. CHECK WEATHERIZATION AND EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS CenterPoint offers residential energy-efficiency programs and rebates in Indiana. Programs may include: - home energy assessments - weatherization assistance - heating and cooling efficiency programs - insulation improvements - energy-efficient equipment - smart thermostats - other rebates or incentives Income-qualified customers may also be eligible for free weatherization assessments and certain no-cost improvements. Reducing electricity use cannot change CenterPoint’s rate, but it can reduce how many kWh the household is billed for. ### 6\. TIME OF USE MAY MATTER FOR SOME CUSTOMERS CenterPoint also offers a pilot time-of-use program called **TimeWise** for eligible residential customers. The program uses different prices depending on when electricity is consumed. Customers who can shift major electricity use away from peak periods may benefit, but the program will not necessarily save money for every household. Before enrolling, customers should compare their own usage habits with the program’s pricing structure. ### WHAT CUSTOMERS CANNOT CONTROL Individual customers cannot directly change: - CenterPoint’s approved base rates - IURC-approved trackers - approved utility investments - state utility laws - the company assigned to their regulated service territory Those decisions are made through the regulatory and legislative process. That is why Greeley’s will continue following not only household energy use, but also: **CenterPoint’s requests** **IURC decisions** **state laws** **public spending and utility investment** **the people behind those decisions** and **the effect on customer bills.** ### NEED HELP WITH A BILL? CenterPoint’s Indiana customer resource information currently lists payment arrangements, payment extensions, levelized billing, energy-assistance programs and energy-efficiency resources. Customers should use CenterPoint’s current official assistance information or contact the utility directly because program eligibility, funding and availability can change. ## WHAT GREELEY’S STILL NEEDS TO ANSWER This is a **Living Story**. The numbers show that CenterPoint customers in Southwest Indiana pay substantially more at many usage levels than customers of several other large Indiana utilities. But the most important questions are not fully answered yet. Greeley’s will continue investigating: ### WHY ARE CENTERPOINT’S BASE RATES SO HIGH? We know much of the difference is built into the base-rate structure. We still want to identify, as precisely as public records allow: - how much comes from generation investments - how much comes from transmission and distribution - how much comes from financing costs - how much comes from depreciation - how much comes from operating costs - how much comes from the utility’s authorized return - which individual projects have had the largest effect on residential rates ### HOW MUCH DID EACH MAJOR PROJECT ADD TO CUSTOMER BILLS? Greeley’s will examine major investments such as: - Posey Solar - the A.B. Brown natural-gas turbines - transmission projects - distribution upgrades - environmental projects - infrastructure plans approved through TDSIC - other large capital investments Where possible, we will calculate what each project means for an ordinary residential customer. ### WHY DID REGULATORS APPROVE $80 MILLION? CenterPoint originally sought about **$118.8 million** in additional annual revenue. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor argued that about **$48.3 million** was justified. The settlement ultimately approved by the IURC allowed about **$80 million**. Greeley’s will examine: - why the approved figure landed at $80 million - who negotiated the settlement - who supported it - who opposed it - what evidence regulators relied upon - what commissioners said in the final order ### HOW DID INDIANA LAW SHAPE THE BILL? Utility regulation does not happen only inside the IURC. The Indiana General Assembly writes the laws that determine how utilities can recover costs. Greeley’s will identify major laws affecting: - infrastructure trackers - generation investments - cost recovery - utility financing - consumer protections - energy-efficiency programs - state energy policy For important laws, we will identify: - bill authors - sponsors - committee chairs - votes - utility lobbying - campaign contributions - public statements - how the law ultimately affected customer bills ### WHAT CONNECTIONS EXIST BETWEEN CENTERPOINT AND STATE GOVERNMENT? Greeley’s will continue checking public records involving: - utility executives - IURC commissioners - legislators - governors - state employees - lobbyists - political action committees - law firms - consultants - trade associations We will look for verifiable: - campaign contributions - lobbying relationships - appointments - former government officials working for utilities - former utility employees entering government - shared professional organizations - board memberships - disclosed gifts or sponsored travel - other documented relationships A connection alone does **not** prove improper influence. Greeley’s will report what the record shows — and what it does not show. ### DID THE PROMISED BENEFITS MATERIALIZE? When regulators approved major utility investments, CenterPoint often argued that the projects would provide long-term benefits such as: - reliability - lower future costs - cleaner generation - reduced environmental risk - replacement of aging infrastructure Greeley’s will return to those promises. We will ask: **Did the project perform as expected?** **Did costs stay within projections?** **Did customers receive the promised savings or benefits?** **Were later rate increases larger or smaller than originally projected?** ### HOW DOES SOUTHWEST INDIANA COMPARE OVER TIME? The 2026 survey is only one snapshot. Greeley’s will build a longer comparison showing how CenterPoint residential bills have changed over time compared with: - Duke Energy Indiana - AES Indiana - Indiana Michigan Power - NIPSCO - appropriate municipal utilities - the Indiana average - similar-sized communities outside Indiana when a fair comparison is possible The goal is not to find evidence that Evansville is always more expensive. The goal is to find out **when it is more expensive, when it is not, and why**. ### WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Greeley’s will update this article when there is: - a new CenterPoint rate filing - an IURC decision affecting customer bills - a significant tracker adjustment - a major utility investment - relevant new legislation - a significant appointment - a new lobbying or campaign-finance disclosure - another verified development that helps explain what Southwest Indiana customers pay This article will continue to grow as the record develops. ## SOURCES & DOCUMENTS Greeley’s is building this Living Story from original public records wherever possible. Key sources include: ### INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION - [**Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission — 2026 Residential Electric Bill Survey**](https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/2026-Electric-Residential-Bill-Survey%5FUpdated.pdf?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - CenterPoint Energy Indiana South rate-case orders - [IURC Cause No. 45990](https://www.in.gov/iurc/files/CEIS%5F2025%5FIRP%5FVolume%5F1%5Fof%5F2.pdf?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - [**CenterPoint Rate Case — Testimony and Exhibits, Cause No. 45990**](https://www.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/vectren-electric-rates/centerpoint-energy-electric-rate-case/?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - [**Richard C. Leger — CenterPoint direct testimony on case overview and rate drivers**](https://iurc.portal.in.gov/%5Fentity/sharepointdocumentlocation/f988c61c-4194-ee11-8179-001dd80bf130/bb9c6bba-fd52-45ad-8e64-a444aef13c39?file=45990%5FCEI+South+Ex+1+-+Leger%5F120523.pdf&ref=greeleysevansville.com) - [**CenterPoint Energy — Electric Infrastructure Plan and TDSIC Proceedings**](https://www.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/vectren-electric-rates/vectren-electric-infrastructure-plan/?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - [**CenterPoint Energy — A.B. Brown Natural-Gas Generation Case**](https://www.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/vectren-electric-rates/centerpoint-gas-generation?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - [Commissioner biographies and appointment information](https://www.in.gov/iurc/about-us/commission-chairman-and-commissioners/?ref=greeleysevansville.com) ### INDIANA OFFICE OF UTILITY CONSUMER COUNSELOR - CenterPoint electric rate-case analysis - [**Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor — CenterPoint Rate Case Testimony and Analysis**](https://www.in.gov/oucc/electric/key-cases-by-utility/vectren-electric-rates/centerpoint-energy-electric-rate-case/?ref=greeleysevansville.com) - consumer testimony - recommendations on the requested rate increase - public summaries of major utility cases - infrastructure and generation-case filings ### CENTERPOINT ENERGY - Indiana rate and tariff information - Integrated Resource Plans - generation-project information - investor and regulatory filings - customer-assistance information - energy-efficiency program information - public statements and testimony ### INDIANA LOBBY REGISTRATION COMMISSION - CenterPoint lobbying registrations - registered lobbyists - employer-lobbyist records - annual and periodic disclosure records ### CAMPAIGN-FINANCE RECORDS Greeley’s will use official state and federal campaign-finance records when examining political contributions involving: - CenterPoint Energy - CenterPoint-related political action committees - company executives - registered lobbyists - relevant candidates and political committees ### INDIANA GENERAL ASSEMBLY For important utility laws, Greeley’s will use: - bill text - amendments - committee reports - sponsors and co-sponsors - roll-call votes - legislative testimony - fiscal notes - public statements ### LOCAL GOVERNMENT RECORDS When relevant, Greeley’s will also examine: - Evansville City Council records - Vanderburgh County records - local resolutions - interventions in utility cases - public statements from Southwest Indiana elected officials ### SOURCE STANDARD Whenever possible, Greeley’s will link directly to the original record rather than relying only on a news story describing it. If a source later changes, disappears or is superseded, we will update the link or explain the change. If two reliable sources conflict, Greeley’s will identify the disagreement rather than hide it. The goal is simple: **Readers should be able to see the evidence behind the reporting.** ## ##