Committee hears bill to require asset-management plans for unregulated water, wastewater utilities

Representative Pressell introduced House Bill 1459 on behalf of utility customers and small systems, saying the measure would require unregulated water and wastewater utilities to file asset-management plans with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and establish escalating enforcement for repeated violations.

"It creates what I believe to be a good rate payer protection bill," Pressell said, describing a three-strike approach that would begin with required asset-management plans filed quadrennially, move to an informal IURC rate case after a second IDEM violation for the same issue and culminate in receivership after a third violation.

Supporters and neutral witnesses described technical-assistance work already underway and urged careful calibration of costs and timing. Tom Isley of Purdue described a two-year pilot with a very small utility called Switch City, saying the team produced an "interim asset management plan" after field work and flow analysis and is assembling…