[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6664831,"mediaKeyId","2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880","parentId",2370831,"title","State policy shift: Citizens warns Senate Bill 4 would add certificate-of-need rules for long-haul water pipelines","audioSeconds",203,"startMs",2437000,"endMs",2640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880&start=2437&end=2640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880/thumbnail_2437000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6664831/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/State-policy-shift-Citizens-warns-Senate-Bill-4-would-add-certificate-of-need-rules-for-long-haul-water-pipelines","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664831-74f29ca36adf69e8bc4ad17b2fc95eb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207945&Signature=ZYbc27gEFdT0cxk0pbLjvDI0Z~SrUDRkxH08wuX-MmOH1p~D5m0MKYidaHot7aOpUPn3ZDM-nqQ2vXMVHCLUXJEWD2EHHsy5bA85SE0EGXCCrah9E~oECy4K1mYWmUh85q1ul78JwW4dkaKOyovrlwGSGYnlXayCBu6U9KG~7NCgLHzW3NG5jXO5F51ElajHnXa51CgpnJREDxwV1IxeZcbJ6ackby7sKYP6EF1xV6QWg4AN2eni3DdvUGkSEl1ErUxYYYiiPAsYgrffWKyWIYF~pNn1GVCBehcIYKUVLS8UrboEiSiKbkCuMr7J0ZrdjR7aASLGMndm0-PC1udjVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Indianapolis, IN","date","2025-02-21T00:00:00Z","article","Joe Sutter, director of regulatory and external affairs, told the board Feb. 19 that state government reorganization and active legislation warrant close company engagement. He highlighted Senate Bill 4 as a measure that would extend a certificate-of-need style review—similar in concept to an energy certificate of public convenience and necessity—to long-haul water pipelines defined in the bill as 30 miles or longer with capacity of at least 10 million gallons per day.

Sutter said the bill would also require Department of Natural Resources permits for moving water between basins or between communities, and that the measure is intended to ensure projects are economic, needed and do not have reasonable alternatives that would better serve ratepayers. He noted that Citizens’ service territory crosses three basins and that routine inter-basin transfers for operations have been treated as acceptable in the past.

Sutter also described another bill (referred to as Central 28 in the presentation) focused on groundwater and giving DNR additional authority to review cases where one large water user might affect another large user, a concern in agricultural areas. On energy policy, Sutter said the state’s new administration is emphasizing base-load generation (coal, natural gas and nuclear) and is exploring small modular reactors, while attention to renewables has changed in emphasis.

Sutter encouraged continued engagement with the new secretaries and agency leaders because the state’s cabinet structure has shifted to a smaller group of secretaries who now coordinate clusters of agencies, including agencies relevant to water and energy policy and permitting.

No board action on the legislative matters was recorded at the meeting; Sutter’s briefing served as a situational update.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council of Indianapolis, IN - Citizens Energy Group Board Meeting - Feb 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Citizens Energy Group regulatory chief Joe Sutter told the board Feb. 19 that Senate Bill 4 would impose certificate-of-need-style reviews on long-haul water pipelines and that other bills would expand DNR authority over groundwater impacts.","taxTitle","Indianapolis City, Marion County, Indiana","taxId",3627,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6664844,"CFO warns tariffs, supply disruptions could raise costs; lead-service funding briefly delayed then restored",547,403000,950000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880&start=403&end=950","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880/thumbnail_403000.jpg","/articles/6664844/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/CFO-warns-tariffs-supply-disruptions-could-raise-costs-lead-service-funding-briefly-delayed-then-restored","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664844-a668db0dfbebab3e27d3c7d2fad8ac90/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207945&Signature=a~1ABygGof29fQ4rTqk7OTKEtWFaMq3oCb-qqgErGdo6IhSkzp7FD~Xz3v87U78mJHRxGm05PrIH9JVn1vDk4eHtreMRBtDg5Bqx3JoxBEEoodmdeUKbCKSnHpGo26CaKkb03t5CxI~Upx5cNgHlE6KZSc5pr6bbfgRTKKpPIpS1WXoREVvJPu7UyJVXaSFrTsb8fiLprGaXiOXwGtTnkOJWoV9G~f3ZwEcUO2WRFYgdPHnQp5C1PXsMCYB3tX0-p~5yI6qkDZI~2M84fWoYIr9xGkAyVXjayb95-5ks9x6hCw1ChGdHN7EQghspqtbVmIHaub5ogOGUZItZxMReSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Greg Jackson, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Citizens Energy Group, told the board Feb. 19 that the company’s preliminary financial projection for 2025 is modestly ahead of budget but faces risks from possible new federal tariffs and supply-chain pressures.

Jackson said overall net income in the company’s projection was about $4.3 million higher than budget, and EBITDA was projected to be roughly $1.6 million above budget. He attributed parts of the favorable variance to colder weather raising gas margins and to an adjustment to the lead service line tracker that increased recoverable amounts. Offsetting items include lower residential and multifamily wastewater volumes and reduced interest income due to an assumed 50-basis-point reduction in yields on cash and restricted bond funds.

Jackson warned the board that administration-level tariffs announced earlier this year could raise prices for electrical equipment, instrumentation and plant equipment that use steel, aluminum or semiconductors. “Our suppliers are likely gonna do a direct pass through to us,” Jackson said, and some suppliers have quoted potential price increases “upwards of close to 10%,” with pass-through timing ranging from immediate to 60–90 days. He said the company is monitoring lead times and maintaining diversified supplier relationships to mitigate risk.

On capital markets, Jackson said Citizens expects to issue new money for its thermal business in the second quarter of 2025, targeting about $40 million, and that market conditions may allow a concurrent refunding. He also said the company’s capitalization and debt-service coverage ratios showed no issues.

Jackson and other speakers reported confusion in recent weeks about executive orders and federal funding availability. That uncertainty touched the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) funds that had been allocated for lead service line replacements. Jackson said the utility had planned a financing package that included $10 million of new money composed of a $5 million grant and a $5 million zero-interest loan, with a planned closing in May. For a short period the company was told access would be delayed, but Jackson said late-breaking developments restored access and the closing remains scheduled for May.

Jackson and President and CEO Jeffrey Harrison also reported operational progress on the lead service line replacement program: Citizens has replaced more than 2,600 customer-owned lead service lines to date and plans to replace about 2,000 in 2025 and another 2,000 in 2026.

No formal board action was recorded on the tariff or issuance items during the meeting; Jackson said the company will evaluate cost impacts and pursue any needed rate actions through a future rate case with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Jackson’s full demonstration and the variance tables were posted in the board portal at page 87 of the materials.","Citizens Energy Group CFO Greg Jackson told the board Feb. 19 that the utility’s 2025 forecast is modestly stronger than budget but that potential federal tariffs and supply-chain pressure could raise equipment and material costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6664849,"Board approves minutes, a gas-cost adjustment and first-quarter financial statements",356,9000,365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880&start=9&end=365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880/thumbnail_9000.jpg","/articles/6664849/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Board-approves-minutes-a-gas-cost-adjustment-and-first-quarter-financial-statements","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664849-f29f345c59200b7c04cd1c9f70a9bf5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207945&Signature=Ph~l0XEiHuE2zx9eEJOxgmMlhzVJ8071r406pbdpmVz7i1PY7s1Ur9Pv1vhWmHfx7MXQXsPUbz7fU9KcbVT8oZBTTIrbviT8~nKP8CXQZI3bm0rz3pI8~T6eXXz6Cfdcy3N8-wQC1zZicZg8S4xW6ZLcBTzlSB7oH54B67YfPBAPG7QqgLBPilD~LM-ATEMIdhFUBoO-ZtWswk9y57EU1~9B8JzjwA6hn7yVtA4fX5X04cjXAou5wD0ApiqdU~MMMA7jJbLPWwyZbByJwTW9GiSprQmWKrF~k0KmNd5zSOKm22S0jrikLgyfEl-tnzL15xUgRIsgISTdm0Hbz562MA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Directors of Citizens Energy Group on Feb. 19, 2025, approved minutes from prior meetings, authorized a gas-cost adjustment, and adopted the company’s fiscal 2025 first-quarter financial statements following a recommendation from the Audit and Risk Committee and a review by external auditors.

The board voted, by voice, to approve minutes for the joint meeting of the Board of Directors of Citizens Energy Group and CWA Authority held in December 2024 and the annual meetings held in January 2025. The board also approved a gas-cost adjustment described in the meeting materials and, following the Audit and Risk Committee’s recommendation and an external review, approved the fiscal 2025 first-quarter financial statements for Citizens Energy Group and CWA Authority.

The Audit and Risk Committee reported that Deloitte & Touche completed a review of the quarter’s financial statements and identified “no difficulties, disagreements with management, or other significant issues” during their review, and that the auditors agreed with the company’s accounting treatment for certain forgivable debt tied to the Lebanon water system.

All motions recorded in the meeting were moved, seconded and approved by voice vote. No roll-call vote tallies were recorded in the transcript; outcomes were announced as approved. The approved financial statements and related disclosures are included in the board materials referenced during the meeting.

The board also recorded, for the minutes, a certification that the executive session held on Jan. 13, 2025, discussed only items listed in the public notice; that notice will be included with the minutes.

Less-critical procedural items and committee reports followed the votes.","The Citizens Energy Group board unanimously approved several routine motions on Feb. 19, 2025, including prior meeting minutes, a gas-cost adjustment and the company’s fiscal 2025 first-quarter financial statements after a review by Deloitte.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6664835,"Citizens unveils 2025 communications plan and launches Indie H2O canned water venture",0,1339000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880&start=1339&end=1339","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880/thumbnail_1339000.jpg","/articles/6664835/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Citizens-unveils-2025-communications-plan-and-launches-Indie-H2O-canned-water-venture","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664835-f95d069243281f20ee78d9af8a3612d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207945&Signature=bb4dhpNFDctcutTztAtl7d4JH1JAumZtmRX~F69lLxQmR2z94CZ0eyJWPBrZMBXZrA-7iAxg6t1QjRgXjf4PzUBjeXiBJvmJLEZBZq6bCoM2wnJZO6mKKV4cDCW4fOWsjnXuVTMe1oEBlujNcdsc-CoBMg1tl-WRpSMoEuqJh4D91zbu3zdVSgaiYCYnhDzufDF5kEylHKghl7AwFSxUsm26uYOYI4-jhktTgQPkpxpUna6GIAzCyDx3-KFJ6tF-wZpoLUPFtSnMryDU0OVfR8ypa6mUXZxvSKGYx2rif~L4tScJK7Sb4tbkOg6X5Mns1~zkqritJZRPnn5Ypwv6rg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer Firth, executive director for the board, presented Citizens Energy Group’s 2025 communications plan on Feb. 19, highlighting campaigns that emphasize safety, conservation and customer assistance, expanded social-media activity, and a new product venture called Indie H2O.

Firth said the communications strategy builds on a 2023 planning session and 2024 research and noted that customers who recall the company’s communications score the utility 4–6 points higher in satisfaction surveys. Key campaign themes for 2025 are “ways to save,” “ways to be safe,” and assistance programs. She described a new “ways to save” winter-safety video with a 1990s-sitcom creative approach that will be distributed across broad media channels and social platforms.

Firth reviewed social-media performance, paid media plans and corporate sponsorships (including partnerships with local sports and cultural organizations). She highlighted a community resource day that drew more than 1,000 attendees and involved about 40 partner organizations.

Firth also described a new commercial product and community program, NDH2O LLC, branded as Indie H2O: Citizens has placed an order for an initial 30,000 cans from a local certified B-corporation co-packer. She said distribution will use three channels—wholesale through Office 360, direct sales, and donations for natural disasters and outages—and that a portion of proceeds will be donated to the Warmheart Warm Home Foundation. Firth said the marketing launch is set for later this month and that special commemorative cans are being considered for events tied to the Dig Indy tunneling project.

In other outreach work, the company distributed scratch-and-sniff cards that demonstrate the mercaptan odorant added to natural gas and reported positive anecdotal reactions to the effort.

Board members asked questions about media mix and research supporting the creative approach; Firth said the media buyer and agency work inform channel choices and recalled that the 4C customer research guides messaging priorities.","The utility’s communications director presented a 2025 plan emphasizing safety, savings and assistance messaging, expanded social media, sponsorships and a new canned-water product (Indie H2O) under NDH2O LLC with charitable donations.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6664839,"Citizens says Lebanon water-supply tunnel project on time and below budget amid $700M program planning",146,987000,1133000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880&start=987&end=1133","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2370831-8fd2818ff27d5e030d2467aefee50880/thumbnail_987000.jpg","/articles/6664839/Indianapolis-City/Marion-County/Indiana/Citizens-says-Lebanon-water-supply-tunnel-project-on-time-and-below-budget-amid-700M-program-planning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6664839-02dbf95fb432e7b1f0f078df085e950b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771207945&Signature=ZAtmKTujzZpJYG5bMS-P~j36hcV2erWlyjfYvbSzHOtZQIPAbI4UYyPsNrJFXPqYZ7fVXCAJRWddIYUFLWJC08tgsmVUqwwc0tHR~MAoQGAR-7-XFIY06QcHgcmGW~53QBldQ-61hmb3rwDt44BttR5JgWoMGReeiNUL522FT-MAEyaCiadI01YHghZdFj14yN32QJp0Y0OF64L5EYOEAlqO1oGjPlmdumR-JKMclhvy6Oglz4PdoeLh1PKU1IWrDHvhx8E6v~phSnMGExmNT3cLsUVOW6mbJTOFZ9sclrrP2f7K3AgTDjXaY~XV3o~3liFq~3b9ElvlB3ePuqd82Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeffrey Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Citizens Energy Group, updated the board Feb. 19 on the Citizens-to-Lebanon Water Supply Project, describing the work as on time and under budget and outlining the project scale and financing arrangements.

Harrison said the program would move an estimated 25 million gallons per day from Citizens to the city of Lebanon and that the overall program Citizens is planning is about $700 million. He added that the city of Lebanon is separately participating by building its own infrastructure and that Lebanon’s portion of work is roughly $250 million. Harrison said Citizens and Lebanon are both engaging consultants and contractors, and that Citizens is participating in Lebanon’s request for proposals to manage that work.

Harrison told the board Citizens Water customers’ rates and revenues “will not be negatively impacted” by the project, a point he raised while describing the shared financing approach. He reported tunneling work is progressing, remains under budget and is expected to be completed sometime in the summer. Harrison said the utility will provide a public media briefing once milestones warrant a broader announcement.

Board discussion that followed included procedural congratulations to the team; no new board action on the Lebanon project was recorded at the meeting.","CEO Jeffrey Harrison reported the Citizens-to-Lebanon Water Supply Project remains on schedule and under budget; the program is estimated at about $700 million to deliver 25 million gallons per day, with the city of Lebanon planning additional infrastructure valued at about $250 million.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State policy shift: Citizens warns Senate Bill 4 would add certificate-of-need rules for long-haul water pipelines

CFO warns tariffs, supply disruptions could raise costs; lead-service funding briefly delayed then restored

Board approves minutes, a gas-cost adjustment and first-quarter financial statements

Citizens unveils 2025 communications plan and launches Indie H2O canned water venture

Citizens says Lebanon water-supply tunnel project on time and below budget amid $700M program planning