Pryor comments on Zay’s dismissal from IURC

Yesterday, August 3, Gov. Mike Braun confirmed that Andy Zay, a member of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), was dismissed from his post. An IURC spokesperson said he was dismissed for noncompliance with state policies related to his previous role as the commission's chair. 

Braun appointed Zay to the IURC as its chairman in January and demoted him to commissioner in June after he presided over the Commission’s decision to allow AES Indiana to raise rates on its residential customers.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement in response: 

“This is another case of too little, too late from Gov. Braun. Firing Commissioner Zay, who Braun appointed in January, doesn’t change the fact that he gave AES Indiana the green light to increase rates on struggling Hoosiers and pocket bigger profits. Hoosiers needed a regulator willing to tell utilities no; what they got was a politician still voting in the interests of his old caucus. 

“At the end of the day, the IURC can only do so much to protect consumers when the Republican supermajority in the General Assembly constantly chooses to prioritize corporate interests over working Hoosiers in our utility laws. What Hoosiers want are vigorous solutions to the utility affordability crisis that allow the IURC to act in ratepayers' best interest. It falls on the General Assembly to deliver those solutions, and I plan to continue advocating for them in the Statehouse and beyond.”