Indiana Electric Companies Face New Customer Enrollment Requirements Starting July 2026
Beginning in July 2026, electric companies operating in Indiana, including Indiana Michigan Power and NIPSCO, will be required to automatically enroll eligible customers who have applied for certain assistance programs. This change stems from ongoing regulatory scrutiny of utility billing practices and aims to improve access to support services for qualifying households.
Regulatory Context Behind the Change
The requirement follows an investigation by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) into rising utility bills across the state. As part of Phase One of this inquiry, which concluded in March 2026, the IURC examined the five largest investor-owned utilities in Indiana, including NIPSCO and Indiana Michigan Power. During the proceedings, regulators highlighted concerns about bill transparency and the responsiveness of utilities to customer complaints, particularly regarding delivery charges on customer statements.
NIPSCO President and COO Vince Parisi acknowledged during the hearings that the company’s billing system, which is 30 years old, limits its ability to provide detailed explanations of charges that customers are seeking. Regulators noted that NIPSCO had received more complaints in the IURC’s consumer affairs division than any other utility in the state.
About the Affected Utilities
NIPSCO, headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, is a subsidiary of NiSource and serves approximately 464,000 customers in northwestern Indiana. Indiana Michigan Power, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, operates as a subsidiary of American Electric Power (AEP), which is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Both companies are classified as investor-owned utilities and fall under the regulatory oversight of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Implications for Customers
While the specific assistance programs triggering automatic enrollment have not been detailed in available sources, the measure is intended to reduce barriers for eligible customers seeking help with utility costs. The change reflects a broader regulatory push to ensure that qualifying individuals receive timely access to support programs without needing to navigate complex application processes independently.
Utilities will need to update their internal systems and outreach procedures to comply with the new requirement, which takes effect in July 2026. Further details about eligibility criteria and program specifics are expected to be issued by state regulators in the coming months.