NIPSCO

Coal ash was used as construction fill in hundreds of properties in the Town of Pines in Northwest Indiana.

According to the American Coal Ash Association, the use of coal ash as fill went up by 40 percent from 2020 to 2021 following several years of declines.

Thousands of Hoosier customers lost power during the week of heavy storms, prompting frustration.

NIPSCO had planned to close the R.M. Schahfer Generating Station coal plant this year, but said it was unable to do so due to supply chain shortages which prevented the company from adding more solar.

Significant proportions of customers are in debt, with some facing service shut-offs.

The highest recent fuel adjustment was by Duke Energy — where the average customer paid an extra $22 a month from July through September.

Other utility customers in the state could face similar rate hikes as utilities transition to greener energy sources, at least in the short term.

Activists say NIPSCO's customers shouldn’t have to pay for what they call an “incomplete” cleanup. Though NIPSCO is removing coal ash from its ponds near the plant, it doesn’t plan to clean up coal ash used as fill on the site.

Several Indiana electric and gas utilities have asked the state’s permission to make big, temporary rate increases to adjust for the higher cost of fuel due to market disruptions.

The northern Indiana utility NIPSCO held a ribbon cutting on Friday for its new wind farm in White County, which the company says will power some 80,000 Hoosier homes.