Denied: Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission rejects Vectren's power plant proposal

The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission rejected a Vectren proposal to build an 850-megawatt natural gas-fueled power plant to replace its aging coal-burning A.B. Brown Generating Station. The IURC order took Vectren to task for not adequately considering various combinations of other less expensive alternatives, especially renewable energy sources, of which it said there was a lack of evidence that Vectren "...made a serious effort to determine the price and availability of renewables."In denying Vectren preapproval for the new power plant — which was projected to cost $781 million — the commission cited the potential financial risk to customers who would be stuck paying for it over a 30-year period in a time when the energy industry is rapidly evolving.