Commissioner Melcher Joins Councilman Friend’s Petition to Reign in Vectren’s Price Increases

Vanderburgh County Commissioner Stephen Melcher today is announcing both is support and sponsorship of John Friend’s petition to freeze all Vectren rate increases until areas in direct contact with SW Indiana have caught up and to require all IURC meetings regarding rate increases to be held in the areas affected.

Melcher has been pushing toward localized meetings and recently spoke on the subject.

At the September 27, 2011 Vanderburgh County Commissioners meeting under Public Comment: Commissioner Stephen Melcher asked to have representatives of Vectren Corporation attend a Commissioners meeting. Commissioner Melcher made that request in response to Carl Chapman’s letter in the Courier & Press and the City County Observer where he stated that “Vectren wanted to speak with all of the different civic groups in our community”. Melcher said that the Commissioner’s meeting is on TV live and that the community would have the opportunity to watch. He also said the public and businesses should be there to voice there concerns.

Stephen would like the Commissioners to have 2 or 3 public meetings with Vectren representatives to answer questions about utility bills. He believes the Governor’s appointments to the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission should change to being” elected” positions by having one member from each of the four corners of the state and one from the middle of the state. They should be elected from their area only. All requests for an increase in rates would be heard in the district to be affected (not in Indianapolis). Vectren’s rates would be held in Evansville with our elected Utility Commissioner representing us.

After the County Commissioner meetings with Vectren, Commissioner Stephen Melcher will ask The County Attorney to draw up a resolution for the County Commissioners to vote on and send it to the House of Representatives and the State Senate to draw up a bill in 2012 for the change from “appointed” to “elected” Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission.