FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2021

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Stephanie Hodgin
317-233-4723
stehodgin@urc.in.gov

Opportunity for Public Comment on Vectren South's Gas Rate Case

***Please note virtual access, operational changes due to COVID-19 below***

WHAT: A field hearing will be held in Evansville by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (Commission) to hear from the public on the rate case petition of Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company (Vectren South) under Cause No. 45447.

WHEN: February 1, 2021, at 6 p.m. local time

WHERE: Virtually via WebEx (details below) or DoubleTree by Hilton Evansville - B, C, and D Ballrooms, 601 Walnut Street, Evansville, IN 47708

WHY: Vectren South has filed a petition before the Commission for a new schedule of rates and charges for gas utility service.

HOW: During field hearings, ratepayers have the opportunity to speak directly to the Commission or submit written comments. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Commission will be hosting this field hearing primarily virtually. If ratepayers would like to watch the field hearing but do not plan to provide comments, they may do so at the YouTube link here: https://youtu.be/CTp2wfdmJfE

There are three options for providing comments:

1. Written Comments. Ratepayers may submit written comments to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor at in.gov/oucc/2361.htm. Please note that written comments sent to the OUCC carry the same weight in the evidence of the case as those spoken at field hearings. Ratepayers also can submit their comments by mail or email:

Mail:
Consumer Services Staff
Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Email:
uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov

Written comments should include the ratepayer’s name, mailing address, and a reference to “Cause No. 45447.” The OUCC is accepting written comments through February 12, 2021.

2. Comments via teleconference. Ratepayers who wish to provide verbal comments to the Commission via WebEx teleconference are encouraged to RSVP by noon central time on Monday, February 1, 2021, by calling 1-317-232-5888 or by going online to https://www.in.gov/oucc/. No later than 5:50 p.m. on the day of the field hearing, ratepayers who have registered in advance may then join the field hearing virtually via WebEx. To join that day, ratepayers should call 1-240-454-0887 and enter the access code 180 937 8016# no later than 5:50 p.m. local time. From there, the OUCC will call on ratepayers to speak, and comments will be recorded by the court reporter for addition to the case record. Please note that because this is a pending case, the commissioners and judge are not allowed to answer questions or engage in any discussion about the case.

3. In-person comments. If a ratepayer does not wish to provide written comments or is unable to join the WebEx on their own, they may come to the designated field hearing location (address above) to provide comments to the Commission via WebEx with the assistance of Commission and OUCC staff. Ratepayers who wish to attend in person are encouraged to RSVP by noon central time on Monday, February 1, 2021, by calling 1-317-232-5888 or by going online to https://www.in.gov/oucc/. The OUCC will call on ratepayers to speak in the order they arrive at the location, and comments will be recorded by the court reporter for addition to the case record. Please note that because this is a pending case, the commissioners and judge are not allowed to answer questions or engage in any discussion about the case.

COVID-19 EXPECTATIONS FOR ATTENDING IN PERSON: Ratepayers who plan to attend this field hearing in person should park in the parking garage and enter through the hotel door off the garage. The ballrooms will be right inside the door; attendance levels will be strictly enforced based on Governor Holcomb’s coronavirus response requirements for Vanderburgh County. Additional attendees may be asked to wait in a separate overflow room until other ratepayers leave the venue after providing comments. Customers will be called up to speak in the order they arrive, and we ask that customers avoid congregating in groups before and after the hearing. All attendees must wear masks, and we recommend all attendees observe appropriate social distancing in accordance with CDC guidelines. Hand sanitizer will be available to attendees.

If you would like to access case-related documents under Cause No. 45447, visit the Commission's Online Services Portal here. Instructions on how to best use this database can be found here.

**If an accommodation is required to allow an individual with a disability to participate, please contact Stephanie Hodgin at 317-233-4723 or stehodgin@urc.in.gov at least 48 hours in advance.

Funding will support approximately 105 AmeriCorps Senior Volunteers
​
Lincoln Hills Development Corporation announced today that it has been awarded an AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant of $75,000 from the AmeriCorps federal agency to support 105 RSVP volunteers serving in Crawford, Perry, and Spencer Counties. The funding will expand the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) presence in Southern Indiana, where LHDC has been providing service opportunities for older Americans as an RSVP project since 1977.

With this funding, the program will leverage seniors' skills and experience in the three-county area to serve in the project areas of Food Security, Access to Care, Aging in Place, Capacity Building, Disaster Services, and Other Community Priorities. Under these project areas, the volunteers will serve in local food panties, assist with the Senior Farmer's Market Nutrition Program, conduct vision screenings for local Head Start programs, provide companionship for the homebound and disabled, assist with capacity building efforts for local non-profit organizations, assemble emergency preparedness kits, and serve in local organizations such as schools, hospitals, and assisted living facilities.

The RSVP is open to anyone age 55 or over. The program provides a variety of volunteer opportunities to accommodate a wide array of skill sets and disabilities. If you are interested in serving, or if you currently volunteer but not as an RSVP member and wish to join our team of volunteers in Crawford, Perry, and Spencer Counties, please contact Kathleen Ferguson, RSVP Manager, at 1-800-467-1435 ext. 230, or by emailing kferguson@LHDC.org.

Throughout the challenges of 2020, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers persisted, supporting communities as they respond and recover from the impact of COVID-19. These dedicated volunteers have combatted food insecurity, helped students transition to online schooling, connected veterans to jobs and benefits, and responded to the community need the pandemic created. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers continue to respond creatively to the challenges presented by COVID-19, adapting their service models to serve their communities better while staying safe. These new COVID-safe service initiatives include sewing masks for first responders, daily wellness calls to homebound senior citizens, and contact tracing. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers stay healthy and active through service, improving their own lives as they improve the lives of others. A growing body of research affirms the numerous mental and physical health benefits of volunteerism, including lower mortality rates, decreased rates of depression, and increased strength and energy. Findings from a recent agency-sponsored study show that AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs report feeling less depressed and isolated, along with stable or improved health scores. Today, AmeriCorps Seniors engages approximately 195,000 older Americans in service at 29,800 locations across the United States and territories through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs. Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55 and older in service, responding to our nation's most pressing challenges.

The Old National Bank Foundation recently granted Lincoln Hills Development Corporation $3,500 to implement additional COVID-19 safety precautions at Cotton Mill Apartments. The grant funds were utilized to install cab air purifiers in two elevators located at the LHDC housing property, which will safely, proactively, and continuously purify the elevator cab air. The installation was part of ongoing efforts to implement COVID-19 safety precautions.

“I am very grateful to the Old National Bank Foundation for its financial support of this project, which will help protect the health and safety of the many families and individuals who call Cotton Mill Apartments home. I also appreciate the Foundation for embracing our agency's work to provide safe and affordable housing, an integral part of our mission to improve lives and reduce poverty in southern Indiana,” said Randy Dennison, LHDC Executive Director.

LHDC Cotton Mill Apartments provides affordable housing to Perry County residents. For more information, please contact our office at 1-800-467-1435, ext. 511 or find us online at www.lhdc.org.

Lincoln Hills Development Corporation (LHDC), a locally governed Community Action Agency, engages in making life better by providing opportunities to empower people to improve the quality of life and address the causes and effects of poverty in Southern Indiana.
​
LHDC provides services to clients regardless of age, sex, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, veteran status, genetics, ancestry, or sexual orientation. The agency is an Equal Opportunity Employer.