Executive Director Michael W. Reed is the senior supervisory authority of the Commission's electricity, gas, water, sewer, accounting and finance, consumer affairs, pipeline safety, and energy policy divisions. In addition, Reed directs the activities of the State Utility Forecasting Group at Purdue University for matters requested by the Commission.
Executive Director Joseph M. Sutherland is the senior supervisory authority over internal operations. This includes various ancillary functions such as human resources, information technology, public information and all Commission financial affairs including the Commission's budget.
In addition to his operational responsibilities, Mr. Sutherland oversees telecommunications, including tasks related to the implementation of HEA 1279, and serves as the Commission's primary governmental affairs contact.
Chief Administrative Law Judge Scott R. Storms oversees a staff of attorneys who serve as Administrative Law Judges for the Commission. Administrative Law Judges preside over Administrative Hearings before the Commission, which are conducted in a manner that is similar to any courtroom proceeding. Administrative Law Judges oversee the entire proceeding. In addition to serving as a presiding officer, Administrative Law Judges also act as legal advisors by interpreting and applying the legal principles established by federal and state statutes, administrative rules, and applicable case law.
At the conclusion of the evidence, the presiding Administrative Law Judge considers all the evidence in the record of the proceeding and drafts a proposed order. Many cases filed with the Commission involve matters of a highly technical nature, Administrative Law Judges work cooperatively with the Commission's technical staff in drafting each order to ensure that it is legally and technically sound. The proposed order is then submitted to the Commissioners for their consideration in making a final determination.
General Counsel William G. Divine and Assistant General Counsels Erin C. Peters and Beth Krogel Roads conduct legal research and provide legal analysis and opinion to the Commissioners and staff. They serve as legal advisers and representatives not only on utility-related issues, but also in other areas necessary to the operation of the Commission, such as contract and employment matters. The General Counsel is also the Commission's Ethics Officer.
The attorneys act as the legal representatives of the Commission to the public, and answer questions from the public about Commission jurisdiction, procedure, and statutory interpretation. They are also the Commission's legal representatives to other state agencies.
As part of the Commission's legislative team, the attorneys monitor and analyze proposed legislation that would affect the Commission and the utility industry. They also work in concert with the Attorney General's Office on appeals of Commission Orders that are in the courts as well as other litigation involving the Commission.
The division is responsible for agency rulemakings. The General Counsel drafts final versions of rules, presides over public hearings, and follows the rules through the statutory process.
The General Counsel works closely with the Consumer Affairs Division to resolve customer complaints involving legal issues. The division also works with counsel from other state commissions, federal agencies, and the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners to track a wide range of national utility and regulatory issues.
Accounting and Finance Director Michael Gallagher and his staff provide assistance to the gas, water, sewer, and electric divisions in the various cases that come before the Commission. The Accounting and Finance Division is responsible for establishing the revenue requirements and return allowed in rate cases for utilities proposing to adjust their current rates and charges, along with verifying the accuracy of the gas and electric utilities' proposed quarterly fuel cost adjustment calculations. The Accounting and Finance Division also ensures that before any utility comes before the Commission for any proceeding, the utility is in legal compliance with the Commission. This means the utility has all of the required annual reports on file with the Commission and has paid all fees associated with conducting business before the Commission.
This division maintains the Commission's collection of annual reports from utilities. The division conducts periodic reviews of all publicly-, municipally- and cooperatively-owned utilities with more than 5,000 customers. This review ensures that the rates and charges of these utilities are just and reasonable. The division also calculates the public utility fee which is based upon the Commission's upcoming budget and the intrastate operating revenue of about 800 investor-owned, not-for-profit and cooperative utilities.
Electricity Director Bradley K. Borum manages the Electricity Division, which monitors and evaluates regulatory and policy initiatives that affect the electric utility industry.
The division reviews and advises the Commission on regulatory proceedings initiated by Indiana electric utilities involving increases in rates, environmental compliance plans, permission to build or purchase power generation plants, and other matters. It also monitors electric utility performance for reliability and service quality. Electricity Division staff examine information from Commission-initiated investigations and assist the Commission in developing potential rulemakings.
The division is also responsible for following actions by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which may affect Indiana's electric utilities. Electricity Division staff often prepare comments on behalf of the Commission in response to FERC rulemaking proposals and participate in other FERC regulatory proceedings.
Division staff actively monitor the activity of the two regional transmission organizations that operate in Indiana - the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) and the PJM.
Gas/Water/Sewer Director Jerry L. Webb and his team of analysts monitor and evaluate regulatory and policy initiatives that affect the gas, water, and wastewater industries and advise the Commission on technical matters. This advice is often in regard to traditional, rate-base, rate-of-return rate cases where the setting of the return component is the major issue. However, the division also advises the Commission on issues related to gas cost adjustments and various forms of alternative regulation proposals, such as decoupling and customer choice for gas utility customers.
The division also acts as the administrator of the Commission's 30-day filing process for all industries. The 30-day filing process is designed to allow certain types of requests, such as changes to reconnect fees and "trackers" to be reviewed and approved by the Commission in a more expeditious and less costly manner than a formally docketed case. The division staff works closely with utilities and other interested stakeholders to ensure the requests conform to the Commission's objectives.
Telecommunications Director John McLaughlin manages this division which was created in 1996 in response to the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (TA-96) - federal legislation aimed at opening the local exchange industry to competition.
Director John McLaughlin supervises a team of analysts devoted solely to telecommunications issues. Since its formation, the division has provided technical assistance on cases regarding the interconnection of incumbent local exchange companies to new competitors, certificates of territorial authority for competitive providers of local exchange and long-distance services, wholesale service tariffs, universal service issues, as well as other state specific matters. The focus of this Division will evolve with the passage of HEA 1279.
Pipeline Safety Director Annmarie Robertson and her staff administer federal and state pipeline safety standards that apply to the natural gas industry and hazardous liquid pipelines. These standards apply to all gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators in Indiana regardless of whether they have withdrawn from the Commission's economic jurisdiction.
Pipeline Safety Engineers enforce the minimum safety standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation as they apply to the design, installation, inspection, testing, construction, extension, operation, replacement, and maintenance of the pipeline facilities of all gas and hazardous liquid pipeline operators.
The division is funded jointly by the Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The division also monitors the U.S. Department of Transportation's anti-drug program for gas operators within Indiana. Additionally, the division regularly sponsors or participates in various gas safety seminars each year. Pipeline safety engineers work closely with operators of small gas systems (municipal utilities and master meters) to help them operate a safe and efficient gas system.
Director of Energy Policy Bob Pauley and his staff serve as advisors to the Commissioners, for federal, state, and regional energy policy matters. One of the primary tasks includes the review and analysis of energy policy issues before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Congress, the Department of Energy, and other federal agencies.
The division is also involved in matters relating to Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) including work with other State Commissions and stakeholders that have an interest in RTO policy development. Pauley is the Commission's representative to the national and regional reliability councils, and participates in energy policy matters specific to Indiana.
Consumer Affairs Director Ja-Deen Johnson and her staff's primary responsibilities are to mediate disputes between utilities and consumers. It is the mission of the division to ensure utility and customer compliance with Commission rules and regulations through reasonable and timely determinations and to monitor the quality of service provided. In order to ensure such rules and regulations remain current, the division participates in the review and revision of the "Rules, Regulations and Standards of Service" for Indiana utilities.
Additionally, the division utilizes information gathered during its complaint handling process to alert the Commission to any unfavorable trends. If staff realizes a problem may exist, it may request the initiation of an investigation by Commission staff or advise consumers of the policies and procedures available to consumers to petition the Commission for an investigation.
The Consumer Affairs Division also assumes a critical role during Commission field hearings by fielding individual consumer questions or complaints that may arise during the proceeding.
Public Information Director Mary Beth Fisher provides information to various groups both inside and outside the Commission. She is responsible for informing the media about Commission actions and utility regulation. The Public Information staff also frequently provides information related to Commission actions and utility operations to utility consultants, financial analysts and individual members of the public.
The division issues news releases related to decisions made at Commission conferences, publishes yearly comparisons of residential electric and natural gas bills, and assists the media at all proceedings conducted by the Commission. The Public Information staff also attends Commission field hearings to answer questions or complaints that may arise during the hearing.
Chief Reporter Lynda Ruble and Official Reporter Amy Tokash attend and report all utility hearings as well as Commission conferences and field hearings. The Reporters prepare the official written transcripts of these hearings and Commission conferences upon request.
The Reporting Division is also responsible, upon request, for preparing and filing, with the Indiana Court of Appeals, the detailed Clerk's Record which includes the Chronological Cause Summary information and Transcript. This process encompasses not only preparing and filing the official transcript from the hearing(s) conducted in a cause but also entails the preparation and filing of all exhibits identified and offered into evidence during the hearings. It also includes the preparation of all pleadings within the cause.
Human Resource Director Peggy Lough's responsibilities include the enforcement of all federal and state regulations and policies. The office is also responsible for recruitment, employment inquiries, training and development, labor relations issues, and all aspects of employee personnel management, including an agency evaluation program, compensation and benefits. The Human Resources Director also implements personnel policies, procedures, and standards for the Commission and maintains all Commission personnel files.
Information Technology Director Wayne Remick manages the Commission's electronic information services. A primary role of the IT Division is to provide network services, application support, and general technical support for the Commission. They provide and support the Commission's Case Management System (eCMS), Complaint Management System (CCM), Pipeline Safety System, and GIS.
The State Utility Forecasting Group, SUFG, was established by state law in 1985 to provide the Commission with an impartial projection of the future growth of electric use in the state. The SUFG's offices are located at Purdue University.
The SUFG also provides information for the General Assembly's Regulatory Flexibility Committee and testifies in certain proceedings before the Commission.
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