IURC to present public hearings concerning Duke Energy scandal

After several months of urging by activist groups, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will have two hearings this week regarding Duke Energy’s Edwardsport Station in Edwardsport, Ind.

The hearing will be at 5:30 p.m. today in Columbus, Ind. It will take place at Columbus North High School’s auditorium, located at 1400 25th St.

IURC will have another hearing at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in Kokomo. The hearing will take place at the Kokomo Event Center, located at 1500 N. Reed Road.

Duke came under fire after the Indianapolis Star discovered e-mails that revealed a potential conflict of interest. IURC Administrative Law Judge Scott Storms was negotiating employment with Duke Energy while simultaneously overseeing the approval of public funds to build the Edwardsport plant.

The Edwardsport plant is currently under construction, behind schedule and over budget by $1 billion, according to the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana.

The plant’s current cost estimate is $3 billion. Extra costs will be passed on to Duke Energy customers, the CAC said in an e-mail.

“Field hearings are an opportunity for consumers to speak directly to the Commission and take part in the decision-making process,” according to an IURC press release.

The CAC has been urging Indiana residents and Duke customers to voice opposition about passing on additional Edwardsport plant costs to customers at the hearings.

Although the IURC is not investigating the conflict of interest at this hearing, the Indiana governor’s office, the IURC, the Indiana inspector general’s office, the U.S. Department of Justice and Duke Energy began investigating the reported conflict of interest last fall.

Former IURC Chairman David Lott Hardy was fired because he allegedly knew about Storms’ employment negotiation with Duke. Duke later fired Storms.

This week’s hearings will give Indiana residents the opportunity to provide sworn public comment about the plant, which the IURC will take into consideration.

— Colleen Sikorski