SOUTHERN INDIANA — Facing intense scrutiny over rising customer bills, CenterPoint Energy has announced a series of Community Affordability Actions intended to help its southwestern Indiana customers manage energy costs and stabilize future rates.
The utility company is committed to keeping electric rates near or below inflation over the next two years. This plan is projected to save residential customers approximately $18 per month in avoided costs through 2027. Furthermore, customers are expected to see an initial decrease of nearly $3 per month by the end of 2025, driven by immediate bill adjustments and credits starting in November.
Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana, said, “We have clearly heard our customers’ concerns and are determined to take action”.
CenterPoint Energy’s announcement follows widespread customer frustration and public criticism, particularly after the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approved a rate increase in February 2025.
At the time of the approval, the company stated that the “average combination electric and natural gas residential customer using 799 kWh per month will see an initial increase of about $7 per month,” with the total impact reaching “approximately $26 per month” once all phased-in increases were complete.
However, many commercial businesses and residential customers expressed outrage over high electricity costs that escalated throughout the summer.
In September, Indiana Governor Mike Braun addressed the issue, stating that “Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after rate increase. We can’t take it anymore.” He directed Indiana’s ratepayer advocate, the Utility Consumer Counselor, to evaluate utility profits and explore cost-saving measures to ease the burden on ratepayers.
CenterPoint stated it plans to engage with local leaders and customers to explore further actions to stabilize rates. The company highlighted past efforts that helped reduce costs, such as the elimination of profits from an older coal plant and its choice not to file a formal base rate case for 14 years.
To help customers manage their energy usage, CenterPoint will also launch a winter savings campaign in October to raise awareness about energy-saving tips and resources, aiming to mitigate the impact of global fuel price fluctuations on local bills.
