Indiana families facing skyrocketing electric and gas bills just got a major lifeline. On Tuesday, the state Senate voted 46-0 to pass House Bill 1002, a sweeping utility reform package that protects low-income households from sudden rate shocks, bans hot-weather shutoffs, and forces companies to adopt multi-year rate plans.
This is the biggest consumer protection win for Hoosiers in years.
Why Families Needed This Bill Now
Utility bills in Indiana have become painfully unpredictable. Many working families have seen quarterly rate hikes jump 20% or more in a single cycle, pushing some to choose between heat and groceries.
House Bill 1002 directly attacks that chaos.
The measure expands eligibility for utility assistance programs, stops shutoffs during extreme heat for vulnerable customers, and requires “predictable billing plans” that smooth out costs over time.
Most importantly, it forces utilities to switch to multi-year rate plans with performance-based incentives, meaning companies only earn extra profit if they keep costs down and service reliable.
“This is transformational,” said bill sponsor Sen. Eric Koch (R-Bedford) on the Senate floor. “We’re finally putting customers first instead of letting utilities write their own blank checks.”
Democrats Praise Protections but Say It’s Not Enough
Every single Democrat voted yes, a rare show of unity in a divided Statehouse.
But several rose to speak anyway.
Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) thanked Koch for carrying the bill but warned that without actual rate reductions, many families will still struggle.
“We are preventing the worst outcomes,” Yoder said. “But we are not solving the root problem of bills that are simply too high for working Hoosiers.”
Sen. Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis), the Democratic leader, called it “a good first step” while pointing out that Indiana still has some of the fastest-rising electric rates in the Midwest.
Other Major Bills Clear Hurdles Same Day
The Senate and House burned through a stack of controversial measures Tuesday:
- Complete ban on cryptocurrency kiosks (House Bill 1116) passed Senate 45-0 after reports showed Hoosiers lost millions to scams at these machines
- New felony-level penalties for doxing lawmakers and public officials (Senate Bill 140) passed House 88-0 after more than a dozen legislators received violent threats last year
- Victims now guaranteed the right to face their attacker during impact statements (Senate Bill 9) passed House 90-0
- Ranked-choice voting officially banned in Indiana elections (Senate Bill 12) passed House 58-30 along party lines
The crypto kiosk ban started as regulation but turned into a total prohibition after Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville) declared he could find “no legitimate reason” for the machines to exist in Indiana.
Real Hoosiers have lost life-changing money at these ATMs. One elderly Fort Wayne woman told lawmakers she lost $87,000 in a romance scam funneled through a local Bitcoin kiosk.
What Happens Next
Because senators added improvements to House Bill 1002, the House must now accept the changes or send it to a conference committee.
Republican leaders in both chambers have signaled they want the bill on Gov. Mike Braun’s desk before the session ends in April.
Utility companies spent heavily lobbying against multi-year rate plans earlier this session. Now they will have to adapt or risk losing performance bonuses built into the new system.
For low-income families, senior citizens, and anyone on a fixed budget, the difference could be life-changing.
No more waking up to a $400 surprise bill in January.
No more sweating through July because the power company cut you off during a heat wave.
Just fairer, more predictable costs from the companies Hoosiers pay every month.
This bill proves that when lawmakers put politics aside and focus on real people, good things can still happen at the Statehouse.
Now it’s time for the House to finish the job and send this relief to the governor’s desk.
What do you think? Will multi-year rate plans finally bring fairness to Indiana utility bills? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
