The Indiana 21st Century Energy Task Force (Task Force) was formed from House Enrolled Act 1278 in 2019 to explore the impact that fuel transitions and emerging technologies may have on the state’s electric system. The Act created the Task Force, which is tasked with identifying energy policy recommendations for the House focused on affordability and reliability of future electric utility service. One of the inputs for the Task Force’s deliverables is a comprehensive study of the impacts of fuel transitions and emerging technologies across Indiana. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) was tasked with producing a comprehensive study of the statewide impacts of fuel transitions and emerging technologies on generation capacity, reliability, resilience, and rates. The IURC divided the study into two components: (1) generation, transmission and (2) distribution. The State Utility Forecasting Group is leading the assessment of impacts on generation capacity, costs, and reliability, while Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Nexant, Inc. (Nexant) are leading the assessment of impacts on distribution systems.

Statutory Directive

Under IC 2-5-45-6, the Task Force is required to do the following:

1. Examine the state’s existing policies regulating electric generation portfolios.
2. Examine how possible shifts in electric generation portfolios may impact the reliability, system resilience and affordability of electric utility service.
3. Evaluate whether state regulators have the appropriate authority and statutory flexibility to consider the statewide impact of the changes described in subdivision 2, while still protecting ratepayer interests.

Under IC 2-5-45-7, the Task Force is required to develop recommendations for the Indiana General Assembly and the Governor concerning the following:

1. Outcomes that must be achieved in order to overcome any identified challenges concerning Indiana’s electric generation portfolios, along with a timeline for achieving those outcomes.
2. Whether existing state policy and statutes enable state regulators to properly consider the statewide impact of changing electric generation portfolios and, if not, the best approaches to enable state regulators to consider those impacts.
3. How to maintain reliable, resilient and affordable electric service for all electric utility consumers, while encouraging the adoption and deployment of advanced energy technologies.

IC 2-5-45-8 requires the Task Force to issue a report setting forth the recommendations required by IC 2-5-45-7 (described above) and, not later than December 1, 2020, submit the report to the following:

1. The Executive Director of the Legislative Services Agency for distribution to the members of the General Assembly.
2. The Governor.
3. The Chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
4. The Utility Consumer Counselor.

2020 Task Force Meeting Dates

• September 17, 2020
• October 1, 2020
• October 15, 2020
• November 12, 2020
• November 19, 2020

For more information, please visit: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2020/committees/21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force

2020 Task Force Meeting Summaries

September 17, 2020 : The Task Force heard testimony on: (1) the role of energy in economic development, and the attributes of electric utility service and infrastructure that are important for Indiana's energy competitiveness; and (2) electric generation cost drivers.

The minutes for this meeting may be found at: https://iga.in.gov/documents/4ee58497

Archived video of the meeting may be accessed by visiting: https://iga.in.gov/information/archives/2020/video/committee_21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force/

October 1, 2020 : The Task Force received testimony concerning: (1) retail tariff design and time-varying price structures; (2) the role of regional transmission organizations (RTOs) in wholesale electricity markets; (3) electric utility ratemaking and rate design; (4) generation resource adequacy and reliability; (5) the role of state energy policy in California's experience with rolling electricity brownouts; and (6) price trends in deregulated versus regulated retail electricity markets.

The minutes for this meeting may be found at: https://iga.in.gov/documents/ded07a98

Archived video of the meeting may be accessed by visiting: https://iga.in.gov/information/archives/2020/video/committee_21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force/

October 15, 2020: The Task Force heard testimony on: (1) electric utility financing and credit quality, along with the use of securitization to recover stranded costs; (2) the integrated resource plan (IRP) process for electric utilities; (3) the annual resource adequacy survey by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) and the Organization of MISO States (OMS); (4) Michigan's resource adequacy law; (5) the use of renewable energy resources in the manufacturing context; (6) barriers to the deployment of renewable generation resources; and (7) needed investments in electric transmission infrastructure.

The minutes for this meeting may be found at: https://iga.in.gov/documents/e6662419

Archived video of the meeting may be accessed by visiting: https://iga.in.gov/information/archives/2020/video/committee_21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force/

November 12 , 2020 : The Task Force received the following: (1) A presentation from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) concerning its study under IC 8-1-8.5-3.1 of the statewide impacts of: (A) transitions in the fuel sources and other resources used to generate electricity by electric utilities; and (B) new and emerging technologies for the generation of electricity; on electric generation capacity, system reliability, system resilience, and the cost of electric utility service for consumers. (2) Testimony from various stakeholders as to topics or recommendations to be included in the Task Force's report under IC 2-5-45-8, including input from the business community, environmental justice advocates, the electric utility industry, industrial consumers, the coal industry, renewable resource developers, consumer advocates, and environmental interests.

The minutes for this meeting may be found at: https://iga.in.gov/documents/e6662419

Archived video of the meeting may be accessed by visiting: https://iga.in.gov/information/archives/2020/video/committee_21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force/

November 19, 2020: The Task Force?s final meeting of the 2020 interim included: (1) discussion among Task Force members of a draft of the Task Force's statutory report under IC 2-5-45-8; (2) the incorporation by staff of suggested modifications to the report; and (3) a vote on the report, as amended.

The minutes for this meeting may be found at: https://iga.in.gov/documents/e6662419

Archived video of the meeting may be accessed by visiting: https://iga.in.gov/information/archives/2020/video/committee_21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force/

2019 Task Force Meeting Summaries

Task Force meeting materials can be found at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2019/committees/21st_century_energy_policy_development_task_force

• September 19, 2019. The Task Force received testimony concerning:
  1. demand requirements including future demand for electric utility service; and
  2. whether the concept of baseload demand is relevant in the changing electric industry.
• October 1, 2019. The Task Force received testimony on the functions of regional transmission organizations, followed by an information-gathering tour of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) located in Carmel, Indiana.

• October 17, 2019. The Task Force received testimony on:
  1. the sources and optimization of electric generation resources;
  2. electric system reliability and resiliency at state and regional levels and
  3. limitations and modernization of the electric grid.
• October 31, 2019. This was the final meeting of the Task Force. Testimony received included information on
  1. transmission and grid modernization;
  2. solar energy;
  3. coal as a generating resource
  4. updates to the State Utiliy Forecasting Group (SUFG) 2019 biennial electricity forecast;
  5. land use issues surrounding electric generation facilities
  6. regulatory ratemaking principles and
  7. updates on the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) study of generation fuel source transitions and emerging technologies. Discussion by the Task Force included their work program during the 2019 legislative interim, along with plans for the 2020 interim and consideration of the Task Force’s 2019 information report.