Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Updates on Customer Payment Plans during COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has required jurisdictional Indiana utilities to provide updates on their efforts to establish payment plans for customers who were delinquent due to COVID-19. Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. has filed multiple updates, providing information on its work with customers, attempts to contact delinquent customers, and disconnection and payment plan statistics. The company has implemented customized payment plans, with some customers entering into payment plans while others have been disconnected.

Key Takeaways:

  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. has filed multiple updates on its customer payment plans, including initial and subsequent filings on July 15, August 27, September 25, October 29, November 24, December 23, February 1, and February 26, 2021.
  • The company has attempted to contact delinquent customers through various means, including automated calls and in-person visits, since the issuance of Executive Orders by the Governor.
  • As of March 19, 2021, the company had disconnected 8 additional customers who were eligible for disconnection, but had no additional customers disconnected on February 25, 2021.
  • As of March 19, 2021, 9 new customer payment plans had been established.
  • The company has previously described its work with customers to customize payment plans for each customer's circumstance, with some customers entering into payment plans and others remaining delinquent.
  • As of November 19, 2020, the company had 45 customers out of 121 delinquent customers who remained delinquent and had been disconnected.
  • As of December 21, 2020, the company had disconnected 6 additional customers.
  • As of January 29, 2021, the company disconnected 4 additional customers.
  • As of November 19, 20, the company had 29 customers who had entered into customer payment plans.
  • As of December 21, 2020, 6 additional customers had entered into customer payment plans.
  • As of January 29, 2021, 6 additional customers had entered into customer payment plans.
  • As of February 25, 2021, 9 additional customers had entered into customer payment plans.

Statistics:

  • 45 customers out of 121 delinquent customers remained delinquent and were disconnected as of November 19, 2020.
  • 6 additional customers were disconnected as of December 21, 2020.
  • 4 additional customers were disconnected as of January 29, 2021.
  • 8 additional customers were disconnected as of March 19, 2021.
  • 29 customers had entered into customer payment plans as of November 19, 2020.
  • 6 additional customers entered into customer payment plans as of December 21, 2020.
  • 6 additional customers entered into customer payment plans as of January 29, 2021.
  • 9 additional customers entered into customer payment plans as of February 25, 2021.
  • 9 new customer payment plans were established as of March 19, 2021.

Sources:

  • STATE OF INDIANA INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION VERIFIED PETITION OF DUKE ENERGY INDIANA, LLC, INDIANA GAS COMPANY D/B/A VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC., INDIANA MICHIGAN POWER COMPANY, INDIANA NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, INDIANAPOLIS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY, MIDWEST NATURAL GAS CORPORATION, NORTHERN INDIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMPANY, LLC, OHIO VALLEY GAS CORP. AND OHIO VALLEY GAS, INC., SOUTHERN INDIANA GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY D/B/A VECTREN ENERGY DELIVERY OF INDIANA, INC., AND SYCAMORE GAS COMPANY (Cause No. 45377)
  • Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission Order (June 29, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (July 15, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (July 27, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (August 27, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (September 25, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (October 29, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (November 24, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (December 23, 2020)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (February 1, 2021)
  • Fountaintown Gas Company, Inc. Customer Payment Plan Update (February 26, 2021)