CenterPoint Energy announces action to manage electric rates for customers

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEVV) — CenterPoint Energy announced a series of Community Affordability Actions to help customers in southwestern Indiana manage their energy costs.

The company aims to keep electric rates near or below the rate of inflation over the next two years. This plan is expected to save residents about $18 per month in avoided costs through 2027. Additionally, starting in November, customers will see a decrease of nearly $3 per month by the end of 2025 due to bill adjustments and credits.

“We have clearly heard our customers’ concerns about energy affordability,” Mike Roeder, President of CenterPoint Energy Indiana, said. “We sincerely apologize for our customers’ frustration and are determined to take action.”

In February of 2025, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a rate increase proposed by CenterPoint Energy.

CenterPoint Energy told 44News that after the approval in February, the “average combination electric and natural gas residential customer using 799 kWh per month will see an initial increase of about $7 per month.  Once all phased-in increases are complete, the total impact will be approximately $26 per month,” in a statement.  

However, many commercial businesses and customers have expressed outrage over how high electricity costs have increased throughout the summer. Indiana Governor Mike Braun, in September during an announcement of a new Office of the Utility Consumer Counselor commissioner, said in a statement:

“Hoosiers have been burdened with utility rate increase after increase. We can’t take it anymore.  I am directing the Utility Consumer Counselor, who is Indiana’s ratepayer advocate, to evaluate utilities’ profits along with other cost savings measures to ease the burden on ratepayers. I would also like to see the utilities’ investors bear more of the cost of doing business.”

CenterPoint plans to engage with local leaders and customers to explore further actions to stabilize rates. The company highlighted previous efforts, such as eliminating profits from an older coal plant and not filing a formal base rate case for 14 years, which helped reduce customer costs.

The company will also launch a winter savings campaign in October to raise awareness about energy-saving tips and resources, aiming to mitigate the impact of global fuel price fluctuations on local bills.