Pryor offers amendments to cut Hoosier utility bills
Today, House Democrats offered an array of amendments to give Hoosiers financial relief and expand protections for their utility services. State Rep. Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) offered four amendments to protect vulnerable Hoosiers and add oversight and accountability measures for utility companies. All four amendments were rejected by the supermajority.
See below for the amendment descriptions:
Amendment #5 protects vulnerable Hoosiers by requiring utility companies to implement a program that would prohibit disconnections for individuals who have a medical condition where they rely on life support devices like respirators, ventilators, dialysis machines, refrigerated medications or other medical treatment.
Amendment #6 requires utility companies to include information about payment assistance programs in the monthly bills of senior customers.
Amendment #7 holds utilities accountable for reliable service by requiring they reimburse customers for certain financial losses suffered as the result of an outage.
Amendment #8 adds oversight by requiring public utilities to get approval from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission before making certain profit enhancing moves such as selling stock, being sold, reorganizing or acquiring another utility.
“My constituents and people across the state have made it crystal clear that utility rates are simply too expensive,” Pryor said “In Indiana, utilities operate as a regulated monopoly, meaning that ratepayers are not protected by the free market and have no other option if they are unsatisfied with the price of their service. It is up to the state to protect our consumers from being exploited while utility companies increase their profit margins. That is why I offered amendments today to increase oversight of utility companies and hold them financially responsible for shoddy services.
“Having heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer is not a luxury, but a necessity. It is dangerous for people with certain medical conditions to go without heat or air conditioning if they face a disconnection. One of my amendments today would have prohibited disconnections for this population of people. Additionally, I offered an amendment that requires utilities companies to provide information on monthly utility bills of seniors about energy assistance programs.
“Although my colleagues across the aisle have realized we must address the skyrocketing price of utilities, this bill does not go far enough to help Hoosiers with their high utility bills. I believe that my amendments and the other amendments offered by House Democrats would have significantly strengthened the system and provided relief for Hoosiers. I am disappointed that my amendments were not accepted, but I look forward to continuing to advocate for more affordable utility costs for my constituents and Hoosiers across Indiana.”