There are reasons that politically influencing the IURC is a no-no

Every so often, the "beat" I cover treats me to a trip down memory lane to the time when I was a public servant. I was a much younger man when I left the government to become a consultant in 2002. And though the details surrounding my old stomping grounds are different, the regulatory compact remains unchanged. On October 10th, U.S. Senator Mike Braun sent a letter to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission expressing his concern about AES Indiana's petition to transition its two remaining coal-fired generating units to natural gas. It's the kind of letter I used to receive every week as the executive director of the agency, although this one is a bit more awkward than usual. I could numb Hoosier brains with all the ways the IURC works, but I won't. The important thing to know about the agency is that it is in the bad news business. It regulates utility rates. That's right, when rates go up, the commission is responsible. Luckily, it also approves all of the times rates go down, but I'm having a hard time remembering when that ever happened. The agency exists and is organized the way it is so that politicians like governors and senators don't have to deliver this specific type of bad news. Trust me, I spent several years giving ratepayers bad utility news, and the elected officials in the statehouse back then appreciated my work. They would beat me up in public over my insensitive quips to their constituents, then afterward, they would whisper in my ear, "thank you." So, when elected officials begin staking out positions on what will ultimately be the decision of the appointed utility commissioners, pay attention. It's dangerous political territory. Leslie Bonilla Mũniz wrote how "Braun weighs in on utility's coal plant conversion ask" for the Indiana Capital Chronicle last week. Is an entire article necessary to explain an ambitious politician's letter to some sleepy state agency? Actually, it's worthy of two.   Connect with Michael Leppert Visit michaelleppert.com to read the full post and links to any resources or articles mentioned. Twitter @michaelleppert  Facebook at Michael Leppert