INDIANA—As families across Indiana struggle under some of the highest utility bills in the Midwest, Indiana Conservation Voters (ICV) and the Citizens Action Coalition (CAC) today announced a new Help Hoosiers Now: Ratepayer Relief Plan to address Indiana’s worsening energy affordability crisis.
The organizations urged state lawmakers to prioritize meaningful, immediate relief for ratepayers during the 2026 legislative session while also enacting long-term reforms that will stem rising costs for years to come and provide Indiana with a reliable framework for future energy needs.
A recent federal report predicted that Indiana’s electric bills will increase by 16.3% in 2025. A CAC analysis released earlier this year found Indiana’s monopoly utilities have imposed the most severe electric bill increases on residential customers in at least two decades, with some families paying nearly $50 more a month than just one year ago.
The energy affordability plan outlines a roadmap for legislators to bring costs down now and prevent unnecessary price hikes in the future. All of the policies outlined in the plan share a common goal: ensuring Hoosiers are no longer stuck paying the price for utility-friendly policies and a lack of affordable energy choices.
“Hoosier families are stretched thin, and they need relief now from monopoly utilities who’ve pushed policies for years that led to this crisis,” said Megan Robertson, executive director of Indiana Conservation Voters. “This plan gives state leaders a clear, practical path to lower bills that will protect Hoosiers most in need and build a more affordable, reliable energy future for every community in our state.”
The Ratepayer Relief Plan includes a mix of short- and long-term solutions, including proposals that help at-risk families avoid dangerous shutoffs; prohibit utilities from passing along unnecessary costs; expand community energy options; strengthen regulatory oversight; and ensure monopoly utilities cannot unfairly shift their financial risk onto ratepayers.
“For too long, Hoosiers have been footing the bill for decisions they didn’t make and policies they didn’t ask for,” said Kerwin Olson, executive director of Citizens Action Coalition. “Indiana’s regulatory system should be built to protect consumers, but that goal can only be achieved if lawmakers give regulators the tools and authority it needs. The solutions have been ready for years. The need is now incredibly urgent, and we hope lawmakers will do their part.”
The full Help Hoosiers Now: Ratepayer Relief Plan is available here.
