Rushville Republican

News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 14, 2013

In lawmakers take up protections for utility customers

Leigh DeNoon Indiana News Service

RUSHVILLE — A broad group of organizations is supporting bills in both houses of the Indiana Legislature calling for changes to a 30-year contract that commits the state to purchase natural gas from Leucadia Corporation.

Nachy Kanfer, deputy director, central region, for the Sierra Club, said a committee hearing on the Senate version, SB 510, is coming up Thursday, and the bill has broad support.

“We’ve seen utilities and citizen groups, folks on the right wing and the left wing, senior citizens’ advocates, environmental advocates, consumer advocates, all come out and say, ‘The legislature needs to act to protect Hoosier ratepayers from Leucadia,’” Kanfer declared.

The current contract commits Indiana to buy natural gas from Leucadia and sell it on the open market. If the state makes a profit, the state and Leucadia share. If the gas is sold at a loss, ratepayers would make up the difference in their utility bills. The contract guarantees $100 million in savings to ratepayers, but only at the end of the 30-year deal.

The proposed legislation calls for evaluating the gains and losses every three years, with the ability to adjust and protect consumers. The corresponding state House measure is HB 1515.

AARP Indiana state director June Lyle said her organization is closely watching what happens with the bi-partisan legislation.

“We are supportive of SB 510 because it really puts a stop to the raw deal that utility ratepayers would be getting otherwise, under this contract.”

Kerwin Olson, who heads the Citizens Action Coalition, said lawmakers’ original intent was to provide long-term, low-cost, reliable natural gas, but loopholes in the contract have left consumers holding the bag.

“Ratepayers bear 100 percent of this risk and are exposed to enormous rate increases, and so it’s our hope that we get SB 510 through so the General Assembly can fulfill their commitment they have made to captive ratepayers,” Olson asserted.

Ultimately, Olson said, his group is opposed to the Rockport substitute natural gas plant, because of economic and environmental effects. They would prefer the statute be removed and the plant not be constructed.

 

Text Only
News
  • Morning crash injures Brookville man

    A report of a single vehicle accident shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday resulted in emergency and fire personnel from Anderson Township and multiple law enforcement units from the Rush County Sheriff’s Department responding to the 10,000 block of South SR 3.

    May 25, 2013

  • Farmers' & Artisans' Market scene from last season. Market opens Saturday

    The Heart of Rushville Farmers’ & Artisans’ Market opens for the season Saturday, May 25. The market will be open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is located on Third Street, just east of Main Street in downtown Rushville.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • crosses Working together to honor our veterans

    The Rush County Veterans Memorial Foundation had a dilemma.
    “Our current crosses were very old [25+ years] and in need of replacement,” said Rushville City Councilman Craig Smith, who took an interest in the need several months ago. “The cost to replace the aluminum crosses was $14 a piece.

    May 24, 2013 2 Photos

  • RCHS 2013 senior cheer Last senior cheer

    Senior class president James Brashaber is pictured leading his classmates in a final “senior cheer” prior to exiting RCHS Thursday afternoon. Graduation for the group is set for June 2 in Memorial Gymnasium.

    May 24, 2013 1 Photo

  • Grizzard Grizzard named Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction

    Educator Paul Grizzard of Rushville Consolidated High School was recently selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS.) Grizzard was nominated by student Autumn Meece for the honor.

    May 23, 2013 1 Photo

  • LCC meets new Community Corrections director

    The Local Coordinating Council (LCC) recently met Rush County’s new Community Corrections director Ashley Stevens.
    According to Stevens, Community Corrections is funded by the Indiana Department of Correction with aspirations that it will, in time, be self-funded.

    May 23, 2013

  • Dougherty Rushville Consolidated High School Class of 2013 Top 10 Students: Dougherty & Fenimore

    The Rushville Republican is pleased to feature each of the Top 10 students graduating with the Rushville Consolidated High School Class of 2013.

    May 23, 2013 2 Photos

  • essay winner Essay contest winner announced

    As a tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Department of Student Programs (sponsored by the Indiana Association of School Principals) provides an essay contest for middle level and high school students.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • FSA announces restart of America’s largest conservation program

    Julia A. Wickard, State Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Indiana announced FSA is currently conducting Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signups for both general and continuous CRP. The General Signup began yesterday, May 20, 2013, and continues through June 14. Sign-up for continuous CRP began on May 13 and will continue through Sept. 30, 2013.

    May 22, 2013

  • comms County beefs up computer security

    During the most recent meeting of the Rush County Commissioners, Rush Count Sheriff Jeff Sherwood informed Bruce Levi, Mark Bacon and Ken Masters that the inmate population at the Rush County Jail continues to increase. According to Sherwood, 46 individuals are currently housed at the facility which is designed for 38 inmates.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo