INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ The Indiana House has amended a bill targeting the state's energy-efficiency program with a provision that would effectively end the program.
The bill amended Tuesday would prohibit the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission from extending or entering into contracts for the statewide energy efficiency program after Dec. 31, 2014.
House co-sponsor Rep. Heath VanNatter of Kokomo says the Energizing Indiana program is “very costly'' and doesn't provide enough benefits for Indiana's electric ratepayers.
Environmental groups say the 2-year-old program has been a success. The program's website says it's saved enough energy to power nearly 78,000 Indiana homes.
Jodi Perras of the Sierra Club of Indiana's Beyond Coal campaign says the House's action “will roll back a proven winner,'' cost energy-efficiency workers their jobs and threaten Hoosiers with higher electric bills.
