NWI residents prepare bill affordability report, will present to IURC

Northwest Indiana residents voice concerns over high utility costs and plan to share findings with state regulatory commission

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A group of Northwest Indiana residents have prepared a report examining rising gas and electric bills in the region and plan to present their findings to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) at an upcoming investigative inquiry. The residents, who have voiced concerns about unaffordable utility costs, documented issues like high gas delivery charges that are often higher than usage prices. They hope the IURC will take their concerns seriously and work to address the "energy affordability crisis" impacting many families.

Why it matters

High utility costs are creating financial hardship for many Northwest Indiana residents, forcing some to choose which bills they can afford to pay. The residents' report aims to shine a light on this growing issue and spur action from state regulators to improve utility affordability and transparency.

The details

The 2026 NIPSCO Energy Affordability Impact Brief examines residents' bills in recent months compared to a year ago, documenting rising gas delivery charges that are often higher than usage prices. The report will be presented at the IURC's March 24 investigative inquiry, where NIPSCO and four other utilities will discuss topics like how usage and rates impact bills, the effect of growth on affordability, and steps to increase bill transparency.

  • The 2026 NIPSCO Energy Affordability Impact Brief was prepared by Northwest Indiana residents.
  • The IURC investigative inquiry is scheduled for March 24, 2026.

The players

Terri Logan

A Hamlet resident who was involved in preparing the affordability report.

La'Tonya Troutman

A Michigan City resident who helped with the report and believes energy is a basic infrastructure that families depend on.

NIPSCO

The utility company serving Northwest Indiana, which has announced temporary support measures and a new electric bill payment assistance program in response to residents' concerns.

Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC)

The state regulatory body that will host the investigative inquiry where the residents' report will be presented.

Kim Robison

A Lake Station resident who helped with the report and has amplified protests against high NIPSCO bills in the region.

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What they’re saying

“You have people across Northwest Indiana who are being forced to decide which bills they can pay and which they cannot pay. Many of us believe Northwest Indiana is approaching an economic crisis driven by unchecked utility costs.”

— Terri Logan, Hamlet resident (Chicago Tribune)

“Energy service is not a luxury. It is a basic infrastructure that families depend on to live solely. We rely on energy for almost everything in our daily lives.”

— La'Tonya Troutman, Michigan City resident (Chicago Tribune)

“This totally caught me off guard. I am a tax accountant, but the rest of the year, I don't really work very much, so I don't have a lot of money to spend on my NIPSCO bill all the time. Usually, I only have a couple hundred dollars left each month, and my bill was like $400-500 more than it normally was.”

— Kim Robison, Lake Station resident (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

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The takeaway

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