Braun reshapes Indiana’s utility regulator after AES rate decision

Gov. Mike Braun replaced Andy Zay as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission with Anthony Swinger, effective immediately; Zay remains on the five-member panel. The shake-up follows Braun’s criticism of the IURC’s approval of AES Indiana’s roughly $70 million annual rate increase. Swinger did not vote on the AES case due to his prior work with the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. The IURC sets rates for electricity, natural gas and other utilities. Zay’s chair salary was $163,000 vs Swinger’s $152,000 as commissioner. Braun can remove members for cause but did not; Veleta and Ziegner are the other commissioners, with Ziegner’s term through 2027.