02/23/2026
Valpo - Nipsco comes to you Tues. night at the POCO Fairgrounds, Randy Niemeyer gives a solid foundation for you to start in a series of videos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AYk3EAHQN/
Watch the videos especially Parts 2 - 3 and/or read the quick summaries below.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ญ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ "๐ ๐ผ๐ป๐ผ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐" ๐ ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐น
Core Theme: Understanding why NIPSCO is incentivized to spend money.
The Profit Incentive: Niemeyer explains that NIPSCO operates as a "regulated monopoly." Unlike a traditional business that makes money by cutting costs, NIPSCOโs profit (Return on Equity) is a percentage based on how much they spend on infrastructure.
The "Spending" Loop: Because their profit is tied to capital investment, the more "stuff" (pipes, poles, plants) they build or replace, the more money they are legally allowed to collect from ratepayers.
Early Retirement of Assets: He notes that when NIPSCO shuts down a coal plant before it is fully paid off, they often ask the IURC (Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission) to let them keep charging customers for the "dead" asset while simultaneously charging for the new "green" replacement.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฎ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ "๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐" (๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ธ๐ฒ๐)
Core Theme: How bills go up twice a year without a "major" rate case.
TDSIC Trackers: He breaks down the acronym for "Transmission, Distribution, and Storage System Improvement Charge." These allow NIPSCO to bypass the long, public "base rate case" process.
Frequent Increases: These trackers allow the utility to adjust your bill every six months to recover costs for ongoing maintenance projects.
Shifting the Risk: Niemeyer argues that these mechanisms shift 100% of the investment risk from NIPSCOโs shareholders to the families and businesses in Northwest Indiana.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฏ: ๐๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ด๐ ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป & ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐๐
Core Theme: The cost and stability of the "Green" transition.
The Speed of Transition: Niemeyer critiques the "forced" pace of moving away from coal and natural gas. He argues that retiring reliable "baseload" power too quickly leads to "Rate Shock" for consumers.
Reliability Concerns: He expresses concern that wind and solar, while part of the future, cannot yet sustain the heavy industrial and residential load of Lake and Porter counties with the same reliability as the plants being decommissioned.
The Economic Burden: He emphasizes that the cost of these environmental goals is being placed directly on seniors on fixed incomes and working-class families who have seen their utility bills outpace their wage growth.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ๐ฐ: ๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ & ๐๐ฑ๐๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐
Core Theme: How to change the system through state law.
Senate Bill 146: Niemeyer discusses his support for legislation that would require the IURC to prioritize "Affordability" as a primary factor in any rate decision.
"Pay-As-You-Go" Reform: He advocates for a "Used and Useful" standardโmeaning NIPSCO should not be allowed to charge customers for a project (like a solar farm or a new substation) until it is actually finished and providing power to your home.
Restructuring the IURC: He calls for more transparency in how the Commission is appointed and suggests that it needs to act more as a watchdog for the public rather than a "rubber stamp" for utility corporations.
