Contact: Kelly Wittman, (317) 450-5711

McCormick for Governor

press@mccormickforgov.com

 

NEW CASTLE, Ind.—Today, Indiana gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick announced her Commonsense Utility Affordability Plan to address rising utility costs hurting Hoosiers across the state.

​

“Indiana families are struggling with soaring utility bills while utility monopolies continue to use ratepayer dollars to influence policy in their favor,” said McCormick. “Our plan restores balance by prioritizing Hoosiers over utilities and will bring fairness back to our utility system.”

​

The McCormick-Goodin Commonsense Utility Affordability Plan focuses on four key reforms to lower utility bills and protect consumers:

 

• Restoring Net Metering: The plan will reinstate net metering in Indiana, allowing Hoosiers to sell electricity back to the grid at the same rate they purchase energy from it. This change will foster competition, reduce utility costs, increase energy generation, and encourage the adoption of renewable energy.

​

• Prohibiting Misuse of Ratepayer Dollars: The plan will ban utilities from using ratepayer dollars for lobbying, advertising, trade association dues, and political contributions. This will ensure that utility companies can no longer use funds meant for services to increase their profits at the expense of consumers.

​

• Prioritizing Ratepayer Advocates in the IURC: McCormick-Goodin will appoint leaders to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) who are committed to advocating for ratepayers, ensuring that the commission operates to apply the same competitive pressure that would exist if utilities were not statutorily protected monopolies.

​

• Lowering Utility Bills by Investing in Energy Efficiency: The McCormick-Goodin administration will reinstate Mitch Daniels’ era Energizing Indiana energy efficiency program to reduce energy consumption and lower Hoosiers‘ monthly energy bills.

“We’re putting Hoosiers first by restoring fairness and transparency to our utility system,” added McCormick. “It’s time to stand up to the monopolistic utilities and ensure every Hoosier can afford their electricity bills.”

​

###

​

About Jennifer McCormick: Jennifer McCormick is a lifelong educator and fifth-generation Hoosier from New Castle, Indiana. She has spent decades serving Indiana as a teacher, principal, and most recently, state superintendent of public instruction. While superintendent in rural Indiana, Jennifer fought to protect local control of school districts to ensure parents, teachers, and administrators could make the best decisions for their children. As state superintendent, she was a powerful advocate for teachers and students, ensuring they had the resources they needed to succeed while protecting taxpayer dollars by demanding transparency and fiscal accountability. Jennifer believes it's time we elect a public servant leader who empowers Hoosier voices so that together, we can make Indiana an attractive state in which to live, work, and thrive.

​

About Terry Goodin: Terry Goodin most recently served as the State Director for Rural Development with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), a role that exemplified his commitment to improving the lives of rural Hoosiers. Prior to his work with the USDA, Terry served as a public school educator. His administrative endeavors began as an assistant principal and teacher at Austin High School, followed by serving as assistant principal with Bloomington High School South. Terry spent 24 years as a Public School Superintendent at Crothersville Community Schools. Elected in 2000, he served 20 years in the Indiana House of Representatives and was chosen by his colleagues as the House Minority Leader in 2017. As a member of the Indiana General Assembly, Terry committed his time to creating better opportunities for Indiana through educational, agricultural, and rural development initiatives and was a staunch advocate for the expansion of Broadband connectivity. 

​