“Approved Senate Bill SB 424 Passes the Cost of Indiana Data Centers onto Consumers”
State lawmakers authorized Indiana’s utilities to immediately pass along to consumers the costs to develop, or even just contemplate, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors — regardless of whether a utility ever actually constructs or operates one or not.
Small Modular Reactors were first designed mostly for military purposes to power submarines and ships with nuclear propulsion in the 1950’s, but recently, SMRs are used by technology corporations to power Data Centers.
According to Wikipedia, a Small Modular Reactor is a small Nuclear Fission Reactor, designed to be built in a factory, and shipped to operational sites for installation, and then used to power buildings or commercial operations. Many of the SMR designs use Pressurized Water Reactors, but some also include Generation IV, Thermal-Neutron Reactors, Fast-Neutron Reactors, Molten Salt and Gas-Cooled Reactor Models. Each system is described in detail here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_modular_reactor
All proposed SMRs use nuclear fission with designs including thermal-neutron reactors and fast-neutron reactors.
Furthermore according to iga.in.gov website this bill allows that the public utility may adjust its rates to provide for the development costs (Section 4) Here’s the link to the bill: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/424/details
The bill allows for 20%of the development costs to be paid for by a Rate Increase. (Section 6 B) and the other 80% of the costs are recovered under the public utility’s rates.
If that’s not enough, in Section 7, the bill provides that these Data Center expenses will be refunded to developers in three years or less even it the costs exceeds projected costs.
Section 9 provides financial recovery if the project is cancelled.
So in other words, Data Center Developers have no risk, whether the project succeeds or not the state of Indiana and it’s consumers will foot the bill.
Editor’s Note: This article was written in June of 2025, since then, they have changed the language to include “Technology Advancements” as well as “Economic Development,” for Data Centers that are not installing SMR’s.
Here’s How These Bills Keep Getting Passed – Shown Above, NISOURCE Pays Mike Andrade $5,000 Campaign Contribution
Based on current case Cause 46120 IURC Documents from early 2026, Schedule 19, the CSV File is a specific financial exhibit or data table that is used during the regulatory review process shows:
• $47.8 M “Corporate Support” bucket with ZERO invoices attached
• $18.4 M CEO-pay raise baked into YOUR rates
• New federal “renewable penalty” they lobbied FOR — now YOU pay it
• $52 M FROM big factories TO residential customers (industrial ROE drops, yours spikes)
• Smart meters over-billed $29.4 M
• OUCC expert model shows only $230.4 M is justified – a $138.3 m over-reach .
• Low Income Program Killed – Only Customers that are 151-250% below the federal poverty level who have received a disconnect notice can apply for emergency assistance. (EAP – Energy Assistance Program)
• Remote-disconnect without knock Settlement authorizes remote disconnection for non-pay—no field collector visit required—temperature guard-rails only 20 °F / 90 °F, no medical-certification exemption allowed (HERE’ THE LINK)
You Can Access IURC CAUSE 46120 Filings, including attachments and exhibits that contain this CSV, by searching the Cause Number 46120 in the IURC Online Portal
HERE
TOTAL Overages:
≈ $294 M per year in documented, spreadsheet-proven over-charges – price-gouging hidden inside regulatory footnotes.
Sources:
OUCC: Shows Homes That are Delinquent as of Sept 2025
Indiana House Bill SB 424 :
Allows NIPSCO TO Pass on Data Center Expenses onto consumers
Indiana House Bill SEA 423:
Allows NIPSCO To Pass on the Data Center Expenses onto Customers
Indiana House Bill HEA 1007:
Allows utilities to recover costs for new generation projects, including upfront development costs for SMRs.
Indiana House Bill HEA 1470:Updated utility regulations, making it easier for electric and gas companies to recover costs for Transmission, Distribution, and Storage System Improvements (TDSIC), allowing for longer planning periods (5-7 years), adding “advanced technology,” and including “economic development” projects.
WSBT FACEBOOK VIDEO
FOX 32 Facebook Video
Fox 32 Article
WNDU Article
WSBT Article
HERE’S THE NIPSCO Articles In Info . . .
Indiana Lawmakers Allowed Nipsco Bills to Keep Going Up
Indiana Lawmakers have passed laws that allow NIPSCO to Increase Fees. Many People are facing double and triple increases in their NIPSCO Bills this winter 2026 and are having extreme difficulty paying their bills. People in apartments face eviction, if their NIPSCO Bill is not paid. While NIPSCO states the increase is only only 16.74%, or $23 a month, local homeowners are facing 200% and 300% increases instead and NOT BECAUSE IT’S COLD! (See Temperatures and Fees on the NIPSCO Bills Below)
Continue Reading . . .
Nipsco Protest, Sat. Sept. 12th, 2-5pm
Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO’s) widespread, prolonged power outages across Northwest Indiana following severe storms in August 2026 are not entirely due to the storm. Many Folks were two weeks and longer without power. Under Indiana utility rule 170 IAC 4-9, electric companies are legally required to maintain strict vegetation-management programs. The Failure: NIPSCO…
This First Protest is to identify who is serious and begin to plan the next Protest in Merrillville on Feb. 3rd. in Hammond Indiana. “Enough is Enough” Families are being crushed by rising utility bills, some have even been doubled. Some are paying $100 Gas Delivery Fees and not using any GAS!
These NEW Delivery Fees will continue into the Summer When Folks are not even using Gas.
The offices will be closed, but the people’s voices will be heard. This is being covered by All The Chicago News Stations! More Links to come! From Local news Stations!
COMMUNITY PROTEST NIPSCO (Merrillville, IN)
COMMUNITY PROTEST NIPSCO (Merrillville, IN)
Wednesday, February 4th
1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
NIPSCO – Merrillville, IndianaHere’s The Facebook Link to This Event
NIPSCO MONOLOGY MADNESS HAS A NEW WEBSITE
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“Approved Senate Bill 424 Passes the Cost of Indiana Data Centers onto Consumers” State lawmakers authorized Indiana’s utilities to immediately pass along to consumers the costs to develop, or even just contemplate, Small Modular Nuclear Reactors — regardless of whether a utility ever actually constructs or operates one or not. Small Modular Reactors…
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Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.
