Commission approves I&M increase

The Indiana Regulatory Commission recently approved a rate settlement agreement with Indiana Michigan Power, which subsequently released details of its Powering Our Future Plan.

The settlement calls for a two-phase increase — $4.20 this month and an additional $4.27 in January — for the average residential customer. Bills will go up to $174.83 on average from the current $166.36.

I&M was approved for a total increase of $61.8 million, a little more than half of the $116.4 million the company originally requested.

“With the recent decision from the IURC, Indiana Michigan Power will continue its current work to provide safe, reliable power to our customers while increasing the resiliency of the grid for the future,” I&M president and chief operating officer Steve Baker said in a press release. “Through continuous collaboration with a number of stakeholders, we collectively reached a settlement we feel serves the best interests of our customers.”

I&M said it will use the increase for $550 million in grid resiliency improvements including upgrading 15 substations, replacing 24 miles of power lines and more than 2,800 poles, and installing technology upgrades.

Reception set

Jay County’s Purdue Extension office will hold a retirement open house for Deborah Coleman.

The event is scheduled for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 21, at El Camino Real, 220 W. Lincoln Ave., Portland. Coleman has worked for the extension office for 44 years.

Fairs scheduled

The United States Postal Service will host a series of job fairs across the state later this month.

In-person job fairs will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at various locations, including post offices at 215 W. Main St., Berne, and 116 S. Main St., Lynn.

Applications will also be available online at usps.com/careers.

Book drive set

A bank with local branches will hold a drive in an effort to help improve financial literacy.

First Financial Bank’s book drive is scheduled for May 6 through 24 at various area locations.

The bank will accept donations of books at its locations at:

•112 N. Meridian St., Portland

•211 W. Pearl St., Union City

•101 W. Washington St., Hartford City

Following the drive, books will be delivered to area schools, libraries and non-profit organizations in the community.

“This will be a fun drive for everyone involved, and we’re looking forward to filling every one of these book bins,” said First Financial chief corporate responsibility officer Roddell McCullough in a press release. “Reading and financial literacy often go hand in hand, so this is an opportunity to team up with the community to help our neighbors improve their financial wellbeing.”

 A list of recommended books on finance will be available in each financial center. First Financial also offers tools and resources at bankatfirst.com. 

Training scheduled

ServSafe training will be held monthly at John Jay Center for Learning in Portland through June.

Training sessions are scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays May 21 and June 18. The certification course is open to all food service employees and emphasizes safe food- and beverage-handling practices to minimize the risk of food-borne illnesses.

For more information, or to register, call (260) 729-5525.

Reorganizing leadership

NextEra Energy last week announced that Kirk Crews will become its new executive vice president and chief risk officer.

Crews has served as NextEra’s executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer in March 2022. He has been with the company since 2016.

Brian Bolser, who spent nearly 25 years at Goldman Sachs, has been named to succeed Crews.

“Having successfully served in a number of critical roles across our business, Kirk is uniquely qualified to take on his new position,” said NextEra chairman and CEO John Ketchum in a press release. “His deep financial acumen and leadership skills will enable Kirk to provide significant leverage to our business as we pursue our strategic objectives.

"I'm also very pleased to welcome Brian to NextEra Energy. He is a strong leader ...”

Agreement reached

Ardagh Glass Packaging-Europe last week announced that it has entered into an electricity power purchase agreement with Sunnic Lighthouse GmbH.

Sunnic Lighthouse will provide solar energy for Ardagh’s NextGen Furnace in Obernkirchen, Germany. The facility is switching from 90% gas and 10% electricity for its energy to 80% renewable and 20% gas.

“Securing long-term renewable electricity for our NextGen Furnace is key to decarbonising glass production,” said Ardagh Europe CEO Martin petersson in the press release. “This PPA will also take AGP-Europe another step closer to meeting our goal of transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2030.”

Ardagh operates glass packaging facilities in Dunkirk and Winchester.

Paxton purchases

Paxton Media Group, which owns several Indiana newspapers, recently purchased the Kernersville News of North Carolina from Meredith Owensby Harrell.

Paxton owns 13 Indiana newspapers, including The Courier-Times (New Castle), Huntington Herald-Press and Connersville News-Examiner. The Carter/Owensby-Harrell families had owned the publication since its founding in 1938.

Meetings scheduled

The Indiana Office of Energy Development will host a series of meetings as part of the process of planning, designing and implementing a federally funded home energy rebate program.

The office will be seeking public input on the rebate, for which implementation is planned for the fall.

In-person meetings will be held at four locations around the state in May and June. Meetings include 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, in Indianapolis, and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 25, in Fort Wayne. (Specific locations have not yet been announced.)

“We are seeking engagement with Hoosiers across the state so that we can reach as many qualified applicants as possible when these programs are made available,” said Ryan Hadley, executive director of the Indiana Office of Energy Development. “Input is a critical element to ensure we develop a robust and well-run program.”

A virtual closing session will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 27.