Indianapolis Power & Light Company wants to raise rates to help fund a new electric car sharing program.
IPL is looking for $16 million to help pay for hundreds of charging stations around the city, to build up the BlueIndy program which has a small presence in the city.
Customers had a chance to speak out about the rate request at a public meeting. Some said the electric car sharing program would solve transportation issues, but others said even the smallest rate increase would be devastating for many IPL customers.
Indiana Representative Cherrish Pryor pointed out that the program would be unavailable to a significant population.
"There are people, poor people, who don't have charge cards. They would not be able to utilize this program, because you have to have a major credit card," Pryor said.
She added that those without driver's licenses and those with disabilities would end up paying more for something they can't use.