Indianapolis Councillors Rally Against Proposed IPL Rate Increases

A number of Democrats from the Indianapolis City-County Council have sent a letter to Indianapolis Power & Light, urging the company to reconsider its proposed rate increase.

IPL is petitioning to increase its base rate from $17 per month to $27.

The company says it needs more money to cover operating expenses and revenues.

Some who oppose the request, like Council Vice President Zach Adamson, say the company painted a different picture for shareholders just weeks before filing the request.

"They have said that their current funding mechanisms, their current schedule, they are well-funded for the future and don’t see any issues with their current trajectory," Adamson says. "And so we don’t know why, according to their own documents, that this is warranted."

Adamson says if it’s approved, the increase would have a significant effect on Indianapolis residents living in poverty – a population that has almost doubled in the last 15 years.

There are no more public hearings scheduled for the proposal, but the state will accept written comments through May 17.