The loan is among $181 million in financing the USDA is making to upgrade rural electric systems in 10 states.

The moratoriums architect says he wants to ensure the states energy future is balanced.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making loans to Martinsville-based South Central Indiana REMC and Linden-based Tipmont REMC.

The utility says the retirements are not yet final but are "the most viable option for customers" under a plan to be submitted to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission by Nov. 1

Logansport Municipal Utilities shut down its plant in early 2016 after deciding it couldn't afford updates needed to meet rules established under former President Barack Obama.

Duke estimates that by 2020, customers will save an average of about $7, or 5.6 percent, on their average monthly electric bill.

An Indianapolis Power & Light representative says the company wanted to know where customers opposed to the increase were coming from. But some say it was an attempt to discredit opponents.

IPL forecasts that the plant's capacity factor - or how often it can run - will increase to 70 percent next year. That's up from less than 60 percent in 2015.

Indiana's largest electric utility company credits the 2017 GOP tax overhaul for what it estimates will be about $7.33 savings per month for the average customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month.

Indiana's largest electric utility says the cut is related to federal tax changes, which reduced taxes for many investor-owned utilities.