Every three years, Indiana’s large electric utilities are required by law to submit Integrated Resource Plans to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC). These IRPs describe how the utility plans to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient electricity at fair and reasonable rates over the next 20 years. 

When selecting resources, the utility must consider a broad range of potential future conditions and variables and select a combination that would provide reliable service in an efficient and cost-effective manner. These plans must be in the public interest and consistent with federal and state energy and environmental policies. 

Prior to 2010, the IRP process was completely closed to the public, leading to the utilities only considering the energy sources they wanted to consider (primarily coal, nuclear, and/or natural gas). In 2010, the IURC began working to update the IRP process. CAC provided a lot of input and helped to shape a new process that is now open to the public. In recent IRPs, public participation has led to the consideration of other energy sources, such as solar and wind, as well as energy efficiency.

IRPs are subject to a rigorous public stakeholder process. CAC actively engages in this process from start to finish. We utilize multiple experts to analyze, and, if necessary, scrutinize the utilities' assumptions, inputs, methodologies, and modeling. It is critically important to challenge the utilities on items such as their load forecasts, fuel costs and power price assumptions, and the cost of resources like coal plants and solar or wind farms.

As part of this process, the utility is required by law to hold at least three public meetings, a majority of which must be held within the utility's service territory. These public meetings are your opportunity to participate in this critical process and ensure that your voice is heard about how you want your energy dollars spent in Indiana.