Indianapolis to transfer water/wastewater systems to charitable trust

The city of Indianapolis, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Citizens Energy Group, and customer stakeholder groups have reached an agreement whereby the city’s water and wastewater systems will be transferred to Citizens Energy. The transfer of the water/wastewater infrastructure to Citizens Energy, a non-profit public charitable trust, is expected to result in $60 million in annual savings and reductions of combined water and sewer rates of up to 25%, city officials have said. The city plans to use $425 million in proceeds from the transfer to make infrastructure improvements in bridges, streets, and parks and to remove hundreds of abandoned homes. The deal must still be approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.