Use Of Coal Down In Indiana

Electric utility rates for Hoosiers across Indiana are up, according to an annual report from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, the state agency that oversees electric and water utilities.

Indiana ranked 18th nationwide for electricity prices in 2016. That’s down from the fourth lowest in 2002. The report says multiple factors are responsible for the increase in price, including stricter environmental regulations and the changing cost of fuel.

The report also found a steep decline in the use of coal for electricity generation. Coal accounted for 65 percent of the fuel used for electricity in 2016, down from 85 percent in 2007.

As for wastewater utilities, Indiana needs to spend more than $3 billion on sewage infrastructure – the eighth highest in the country. Many infrastructure projects across the state are already underway to address that need, including in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville.