Each of the seven Indiana Electric Cooperatives regional meetings were held throughout June. Each meeting was joined by Indiana state legislators for frank panel conversations about the threats and opportunities facing electric cooperatives.
Co-op leaders in attendance seized the opportunity to discuss key issues for their communities, face-to-face with policymakers who advocate for electric cooperatives in the Statehouse.
Legislators Discuss Paths to Public Service
A highlight of each regional meeting was hearing the state senators and representatives describe their unique paths to public service. Few began their careers with the intention of entering politics; instead, they came into it unexpectedly after time in occupations as varied as long-haul truck driving, management at UPS, and law enforcement. Others found their way into politics through experiences running a youth baseball league or serving on a tourism board.
Demystifying the Legislative Process
Several legislators described their day-to-day work, making the legislative process more concrete for attendees. Topics of interest included how legislators work with lobbyists and how committee chairs consider and prioritize bills. A recurring theme was the bipartisan cooperation that gets legislation passed in Indiana — 90% of passed bills have bipartisan support, and 51% pass unanimously. Legislators shared that leadership in both parties encourages cross-party collaboration, which they said the media often overlooks.
Deregulation Looms Large
The threat of electric deregulation was raised in each panel. While proponents believe consumer choice will lead to lower costs, opening the door for large-load customers to exit the system could trigger rate increases for others. Such was the case in Kentucky in 2013, where an aluminum smelter ending its power supply triggered 48% rate increases among the utility’s remaining customers. Conversely, a Michigan utility recently reported a 3% rate decrease tied to a new data center load, demonstrating that data centers can lower rates by adding revenue that exceeds their fixed costs.
Across the panels, legislators were skeptical that deregulation benefits consumers. Indiana Electric Cooperatives is hard at work gathering data and preparing materials to address potential deregulation efforts.
Political Participation through PAC support
IEC presented legislators with contributions from the Indiana Electric Cooperatives State Political Action Committee. With participation from directors and eligible employees of Indiana’s electric cooperatives, the state-regulated PAC supports candidates who understand the needs of Indiana’s electric cooperatives and consistently advance the issues affecting them. Bipartisan contributions via our state and federal PACs are just one of the ways Indiana Electric Cooperatives engages in the political process to advocate for reliable and affordable energy.
