The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is encouraging Lebanon municipal electric customers to comment on the utility’s pending rate case, through both written comments and the case’s upcoming field hearing in Lebanon.

The OUCC – which represents consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) – is accepting written consumer comments for the case record through July 5, 2012.

In addition, an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) public field hearing will be held on Monday, June 11, 2012 in the Lebanon Middle School Seminar Room (1800 N. Grant St.). The hearing’s public comment portion will begin at 6:00 p.m.

• Sworn oral and written comments regarding the rate case will be accepted during the field hearing.
  
  
• Oral and written consumer comments carry equal weight and will become part of the official evidentiary record considered by the IURC in reaching its final decision.
  
  
• Commissioners are not allowed to answer consumer questions during the formal field hearing. (However, OUCC and IURC staff will be available.)
  
  

An OUCC informational session on the regulatory process and public field hearing procedures will precede the hearing, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Lebanon’s pending proposal would increase the monthly residential electric bill for a customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) from $91.37 to $108.07. The city is also proposing to issue up to $13 million in long-term debt. According to its testimony, the utility is seeking the changes due to increases in operating and maintenance costs along with proposed capital improvements (including new substations, replacement of aging infrastructure at existing substations, and a new operations building).

Lebanon’s current electric rates were approved in 1995. The city’s municipal water and sewer rates are not at issue in this case and are not under IURC jurisdiction.

The OUCC is reviewing the city’s request and is scheduled to file testimony on July 12, 2012.

Consumers who cannot attend the field hearing may provide written comments to the OUCC online at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, or by mail, email or fax:

• Mail: Consumer Services Staff
  Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
  115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
  Indianapolis, IN 46204
  
  
• email: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
  
• Fax: (317) 232-5923
  
  

Written comments should include the consumer’s name, mailing address and a reference to “IURC Cause No. 44142.”

For more information, please visit the OUCC’s Website at www.in.gov/oucc/2692.htm.