Requires a utility to accept certain methods of payment from the department of natural resources (department) for utility service provided to a property owned by the department. Prohibits a utility from limiting or restricting the: (1) dollar amount to less than $10,000; or (2) number of allowable payment transactions for a singular invoice to less than five; with respect to a payment made by one of the specified payment methods. Provides that for any singular property owned by the department, the department may request from a utility a consolidated bill for the property. Requires a utility that receives such a request to provide the department with a singular invoice for the entire property, unless the utility is unable to do so because of billing limitations or other operational constraints. Requires the natural resources commission to obtain primary enforcement authority from the United States Environmental Protection Agency to regulate Class VI underground injection wells. Grants the natural resources commission authority to adopt rules to regulate Class VI underground injection wells. Provides a mechanism and regulatory scheme for underground storage of carbon dioxide in Indiana but excludes the carbon sequestration pilot project from application of the new requirements. Specifies that the carbon sequestration pilot project's Class VI wells are not experimental.
Amends the statute that authorizes a conservancy district providing water service to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) if the conservancy district serves less than 2,000 customers, so as to authorize a withdrawal from the IURC's jurisdiction if the conservancy district serves less than 3,000 customers. Amends the existing statute authorizing alternative regulatory procedures for water or sewer utilities with customer bases not exceeding specified numbers to include within the scope of the statute a procedure that promotes economic development opportunities in rural areas while providing just and reasonable protections to a utility's existing ratepayers. Prohibits a water or wastewater utility (utility) from charging or collecting a capacity related fee or a tap fee to an eligible customer for connecting workforce housing to the utility's water or wastewater system (system) under certain circumstances. Provides that if the utility determines that the extension of service to the workforce housing will not result in a positive contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period, the utility may charge and collect from the eligible customer a capacity related fee or a tap fee that does not exceed the difference between: (1) the otherwise applicable capacity related fee or tap fee; minus (2) the contribution to the utility's overall cost of service over a 20 year period that will result from the extension of service to the workforce housing. Provides that for purposes of these provisions, an "eligible customer" means a not-for-profit organization that: (1) has entered into an agreement with the Indiana housing and community development authority under which the person will construct workforce housing in Indiana; and (2) seeks to connect the workforce housing to the system of a utility under the terms of a special contract with the utility. Authorizes a water or wastewater utility that is eligible under existing law to recover costs for service enhancement improvements (eligible utility) to adjust the statutory adjustment tracker to reflect certain per unit chemical and power costs if those costs have increased or decreased by more than 3% over the two most recent years. Provides that if the costs: (1) have increased by more than 3% over the two year period, the amount of the adjustment shall be included in the adjustment rider as an expense; or (2) have decreased by more than 3% over the two year period, the amount of the adjustment shall be included in the adjustment rider as a credit. Provides that an eligible utility is not required to seek preapproval of a plan from the IURC in order to seek recovery of the costs of chemicals and power. Requires an eligible utility for which the IURC has issued an order approving an adjustment rider for the recovery of chemical or power costs to file a petition for a change in its adjustment amount: (1) not later than 30 days after the end of each 12 month period after the date of the IURC's order approving the adjustment rider; and (2) until the IURC issues an order in the eligible utility's next general rate case. Specifies that the costs of chemicals and power may be recovered in full and without deferring 20% of the costs for recovery as part of the eligible utility's next general rate case.
Defines "surplus interconnection service" (SIS), with respect to established interconnection service connecting an electric generating facility with an electric transmission system, as any portion of that service that: (1) has not been used; and (2) is not reasonably expected to be needed; the use of which would result in the total amount of interconnection service at the point of interconnection remaining the same. Provides that an electric utility that is required to file integrated resource plans (IRPs) with the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) must include in any IRP filed after December 31, 2029, an analysis of the potential for SIS to meet immediate needs for capacity and energy at utility owned facilities. Provides that with respect to any petition filed with the IURC after December 31, 2029, for a certificate of public convenience and necessity for the construction, purchase, or lease of an electric generation facility, the IURC shall consider whether: (1) the petitioner has conducted an analysis of the use of SIS as an alternative to, or in conjunction with, the proposed construction, purchase, or lease of the facility; and (2) the proposed construction, use, or lease of the facility will make use of, or allow for the use of, SIS. Requires the IURC to conduct a study to evaluate the potential use of SIS by electric utilities. Sets forth specific topics that the IURC must evaluate as part of the study. Requires the IURC to include in its 2027 annual report its findings with respect to the topics evaluated in the study.
Provides that before a municipally owned utility (utility) may condemn land for the extension of a water main or a wastewater main that is located outside: (1) the corporate boundaries of the municipality; or (2) the existing service territory of the utility; the utility must provide, by mail, written notice to each landowner whose land is needed for the extension and to the county plan commission for the county in which the extension project is proposed. Sets forth the information that must be included in the required notices. Requires the: (1) utility to post on the utility's website; and (2) county in which the extension project is proposed to post on the county's website; certain information about the proposed extension project. Provides that a landowner or a county plan commission that receives a notice from a utility under the bill's provisions may, not later than 30 days after receiving the notice, request in writing a meeting with the utility regarding the proposed extension project. Provides that upon receiving such a request, the utility shall offer to meet with the landowner or county plan commission not later than 30 days after the utility's receipt of the request. Authorizes a utility to proceed with a proposed extension project if the utility has satisfied the bill's notice requirements. Beginning in 2027, requires the Indiana utility regulatory commission (IURC) to include in its annual report the following information with respect to the most recently concluded state fiscal year: (1) Any reported delays in an extension project that a utility attributes to any of the bill's requirements. (2) Any complaints or disputes arising under the bill's provisions that are submitted to the IURC. (3) Any action taken by the IURC with respect to any reported delays, complaints, or disputes arising under the bill's provisions.
Makes the following changes to the Indiana Code chapter concerning the issuance of permits for nuclear powered generating facilities and nuclear fuel reprocessing plants (facilities) by the department of environmental management (department): (1) Repeals a provision that prohibits a person from constructing or operating, or increasing the capacity of, a facility without a permit from the department. (2) Repeals a provision authorizing the environmental rules board (board) to adopt rules establishing: (A) conditions for the issuance of a permit for; and (B) requirements for the operation of; a facility. (3) Requires a person proposing to construct a facility to file with the department (instead of the board, under current law) an environmental feasibility report concurrently with the filing of documents (instead of the preliminary safety analysis, under current law) required to be filed with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (instead of the United States Atomic Energy Commission, under current law). (4) Repeals a provision authorizing the commissioner of the department to conduct a public hearing on the environmental effects of the proposed operation of a facility. (5) Repeals a provision: (A) requiring the board to adopt rules and standards to protect Indiana citizens from radiation hazards; and (B) setting forth requirements for required permits with respect to radioactive discharge.
