The City of Bloomington Utilities has launched a two-year reconstruction project of the downtown stormwater infrastructure, called the Hidden River Pathway. CBU and its contractor, Milestone Contractors LLP, will be reconstructing 1,829 feet of culverts, along with some sanitary sewers and water mains.

Work has begun at the downstream connection to the existing culvert on Washington Street between Smith Avenue & 2nd Street, and a section of Washington Street will be closed for about two months. From there, work will continue at various locations along the route highlighted in red on the map (see below). 

More information about the project is available here.

Water rates would increase by over 30% for commercial customers and over 40% for industrial customers, if proposed increases are approved by the City of Bloomington. Get details on the proposed rate changes here.

Utilities staff held an informational meeting on Jan. 7 – watch a recording of the session here. The Utilities Service Board's Finance Subcommittee will meet on  Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. and Jan. 19 at 4 p.m., followed by a meeting of the entire USB to take final action on Jan. 19 at 5 p.m. 

The Bloomington Council will then hear a first reading of the proposed changes at its Feb. 3 meeting, with final action expected on March 3. If approved by council, CBU will file the rate request with the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission (IURC) before the end of March 2021. CBU anticipates that the IURC will host public hearings, with the dates and times to be announced. Any final rates that are approved by IURC will go into effect in early 2022. 

Duke Energy has proposed a rate hike, filing its request with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) on July 2. The IURC is required to approve this kind of utility rate adjustment.

On average, commercial customers would see a 16.7% increase. Rates for industrial customers would increase on average between 11.3% and 16.3%, while residential customers would have an average rate increase of 19% (or about $23 more per month).

According to an Indy Star report, this is the first time Duke Energy has requested a rate increase in almost 20 years.

If approved by the IURC, rates would be phased in over two years beginning in the spring/summer of 2020.  Before then – possibly as early as the fall of 2019 – the IURC will schedule public hearings to gather input on the proposed increases.

The change would raise the firm's revenue by roughly $395 million annually.

Duke Energy cites several reasons for the request:
– Investments tied to growth in its customer base;
– Transitioning to renewable energy sources and closing some of the company's Indiana coal-fired plants sooner than previously planned;
– Costs associated with increasing the system's reliability and reducing power outages;
– Complying with stricter federal rules that require closing the firm's coal ash basins;
– Installing "smart meters." 

In Indiana, Duke Energy serves customers in 69 counties, including Monroe County. Click here to read a fact sheet about the proposed rate increases.