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Citizens Action Coalition warns against charging customers for nuclear pre‑construction, urges contact with lawmakers
Summary
A Citizens Action Coalition representative told the HOPE Team meeting that several Indiana bills would let utilities charge customers for pre‑construction costs for small modular reactors and urged residents to contact legislators; the speaker also described other consumer‑protection bills that did not receive hearings.
A representative of the Citizens Action Coalition told attendees that state lawmakers are considering measures this legislative session that could shift certain utility pre‑construction costs to customers and said consumers should contact elected officials to oppose the language.
The speaker, introduced by Kim Boyd and identified at the meeting as a Citizens Action Coalition representative, said three bills — House Bill 1007 and Senate Bills 423 and 424 — contain similar provisions that would let utilities charge customers in advance for pre‑construction costs associated with small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The representative said the organization is particularly concerned about charging customers before construction or generation begins.
“We would be concerned about that language,” the representative said, adding: “You should not have to pay for it when they’re getting permits.” The speaker said the bills had passed the chamber of origin and were moving through the legislative process and that Citizens Action Coalition staff were working at the State House to oppose the measures.
The speaker also described three consumer‑protection bills that did not receive hearings earlier in the session: Senate Bill 97, which would have provided a summer disconnection moratorium similar to Indiana’s winter protection for LIFE program recipients; Senate Bill 226, which would have authorized state utility regulators to approve low‑income assistance programs; and Senate Bill 434, which would have barred utilities from billing customers for lobbying and political activities. The speaker said those consumer‑protection proposals failed to get hearings and therefore did not advance.
The Citizens Action Coalition representative noted utilities such as AES Indiana and NIPSCO have strong legislative presences and lobby resources. The speaker said the organization provides prewritten letters and a contact tool that sends messages to both a constituent’s legislator and members of the utilities committee, and she urged attendees to use the Coalition’s action resources.
The speaker advised attendees to file complaints with the Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor’s office (the consumer affairs division) for irregular billing and noted that Citizens Action Coalition staff can assist with bill issues. The speaker referenced the large billing‑system change AES made in October 2023 — which resulted in many inaccurate bills — and said the Coalition continues to receive calls about irregular billing.
The Citizens Action Coalition representative encouraged residents to join the nonprofit’s email and text alerts during the legislative session and to sign the preformed opposition letter available on the organization’s outreach materials.
The HOPE Team meeting included questions from attendees about available relief resources; the speaker pointed to township trustees, community centers, 2‑1‑1, local case managers and United Way funds as options for people who need immediate assistance with utility bills, while reiterating the Coalition’s push for systemic protections.
Attendees were directed to the Coalition’s handout and QR codes for the action tool and were invited to opt into emails and text messages for updates during the legislative session.
