EVANSVILLE — State Rep. Alex Burton (D-Evansville) will host a town hall on energy costs Wednesday, Sept. 17, as local residents are navigating increasing CenterPoint Energy bills.
The town hall is set for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Potter’s Wheel, 333 Jefferson Ave. in Evansville.
Burton said he will take questions during the event, as well as present his plans to address rising costs.
“I know many feel helpless, but I’m giving our energy costs my undivided attention,” he said. “Things will not change overnight, but I am committed to addressing energy costs and a more sustainable path forward.”
Burton is in his first year as a member of the Indiana Legislature and has made utility cost burdens a focus.
Earlier this year, Burton asked the Legislative Council to assign electric utility rates, charges and fees to an interim study committee. His letter to the council was also signed by several other state legislators: Sen. Jim Tomes (R-Wadesville), Rep. Cindy Ledbetter (R-Newburgh) and Rep. Matt Hostettler (R-Patoka), as Southern Indiana residents continue to battle high costs from CenterPoint Energy.
It was ultimately not selected, and after the study committee announcements, Burton described it as a mixed moment.
“While I’m proud of the work we’ve done to raise the issue of soaring utility rates in Southwest Indiana, I’m disappointed that our bipartisan effort to formally study this crucial topic was not selected,” he stated. “Still, this is far from the end of the road.”
Burton did get a spot on the Energy, Utilities, and Telecommunications study committee, which will meet Sept. 24 in Indianapolis.
According to the breakdown of committees shared from the Legislative Council, that committee will be tasked with reviewing annual reports from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Rep. Alex Burton to hold town hall in Evansville on rising utility costs
Reporting by Sarah Loesch, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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