House Bill 1084 Summary

• Grants the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) authority to impose civil penalties up to $5,000 on public utilities for violations of utility laws or failure to comply with IURC rate and service requirements.

• Allows the IURC to impose an additional penalty up to $10,000 if the violation demonstrates a willful disregard or continuing pattern of noncompliance by the utility.

• Permits the IURC to independently recover or collect forfeitures and penalties through court action, or at the IURC's option, through the attorney general.

• Enables the IURC to contract with outside counsel to prosecute penalty recovery suits, subject to approval by the governor and budget agency.

• Effective July 1, 2012; limits penalties to one violation per day per cause and exempts violations caused by circumstances beyond the utility's control, customer equipment, or acts of God.