SB340 will raise your electric rates!  Call your Senator TODAY!

Dear ,  

 

This week the Indiana Senate will be voting on SB340, which will significantly weaken the energy efficiency programs created by the administration of former Governor Mitch Daniels. The bill will exempt Indiana's largest energy users from participating in the programs AND from paying any of the programs' costs, which will increase costs for all other customers

 

SB340 will raise your electric rates!  Please call or e-mail your Senator TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO ON SB340. 

 

The bill's author, Senator Jim Merritt (R, Indianapolis), has publicly stated the justification for the bill: electric bills are becoming unaffordable in Indiana for manufacturers and other large industrial customers, and they need immediate rate relief. We agree that electric bills are becoming unaffordable in Indiana, and all ratepayers need relief, not just big business. 

 

However, energy efficiency is not the problem--it's the solution! Energy efficiency is the quickest path to reducing energy costs and the cheapest kWh of electricity we can generate. It is counterintuitive to work towards reducing electric bills by reducing investments in energy efficiency. This bill will achieve the exact opposite of its stated goal.

 

Sen. Merritt said as much when he co-authored a 2009 Indianapolis Star op-ed with former State Sen. Bev Gard, celebrating the State's new energy efficiency programs. They wrote:

 

"The good news is that Indiana's major electric utilities have been ordered to reduce electricity consumption by 2 percent through energy efficiency programs. We believe these are among the most effective and cost-efficient ways to deal with our energy problems. Energy efficiency isn't a silver bullet. But a coordinated, statewide energy efficiency effort is a significant and realistic step in the right direction and we applaud the Daniels administration for taking it. To be successful, however, everyone must take part."

 

Exempting the largest customers from contributing to the costs of the programs will increase costs to other customers. All customers should pay for all resource types, especially one that is the least cost. 

 

SB340 will raise your electric rates!  Please call or e-mail your Senator TODAY and tell them to VOTE NO ON SB340.

 

For more info on SB340, go here: http://www.citact.org/politics-and-money-indiana-general-assembly/campaign/2014-indiana-general-assembly-your-voice-needed

 

To look up and/or e-mail your legislators, visit: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/legislators/

 
Indiana State Senate
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2785
(317) 232-9400
(800) 382-9467 
 
Thank you for your continued support.  We could not do this work without you! 
 
Sincerely,


Kerwin Olson 
Executive Director 
Citizens Action Coalition

 

 

 

 

 

Citizens Action Coalition is Indiana's oldest and largest consumer and environmental advocacy organization. Hoosiers working for Hoosiers.
http://www.citact.org