Logansport council approves ordinance setting uses for proceeds from sale of 230 kV transmission line

The Logansport Common Council on March 10 approved Ordinance 2025-11, establishing how proceeds from the sale of a 230 kilovolt transmission line will be used by Logansport Utilities.

The ordinance passed with suspension of the rules so staff could meet filing deadlines ahead of an April 10 hearing before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). Council roll-call votes recorded by the clerk showed unanimous yes votes on both the suspension and final passage.

Council members and staff explained the ordinance is a final administrative step before the IURC hearing. Kelly, the city’s counsel, said the city has filed testimony and expects to present formal testimony at the April 10 hearing; she told the council the commission typically issues an order within 30 to 60 days after a hearing and that staff will submit a proposed order to the judge to help expedite drafting. The city reported it has met informally with the IURC and held public hearings with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC).

City staff described negotiated operating arrangements with Duke Energy and GridLions. According to staff, Duke is expected to perform operations and maintenance (O&M) on the line; GridLions and Duke were “in negotiations for Duke to continue doing that maintenance work on that line without interruption.” Staff said Logansport Utilities would perform initial triage—making an outage site safe and alerting the O&M provider—but not work directly on the 230 kV line because that voltage exceeds the utility crew’s authorized work level. Under the arrangement described to the council, Duke would assume maintenance liability, pursue cost recovery from MISO for upgrades, and upgrade aging equipment that dates to the early 1980s.

Staff told the council the proceeds are proposed to be deposited into the utility’s capital-improvements and depreciation/replacement accounts; the proposal and staff testimony state the funds will be used for capital improvements of the utility. That allocation is reflected in the testimony staff said they will file with the IURC.

No interveners had been recorded at the time staff briefed the council, and staff said the utility has an ongoing business relationship with Duke.

The ordinance was identified on the agenda as "Ordinance 2025-11, an ordinance of the common council of the city of Logansport, Indiana regarding proceeds of the sale of a 230 kV transmission line to Logansport Utilities." The council passed the ordinance with suspension of the rules.

Looking ahead, staff said they expect the IURC’s written order within roughly 30 days after the April 10 hearing, depending on the commission’s schedule.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-11 — approved with suspension of the rules; roll-call votes recorded as yes: BJ Cox; Hailey Zensmaster; Dave Morris; Susie Walmsley; Chris Howard; Scott Petey; Cameron Austin.