Just a quick note to let blog readers know that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) is conducting a Workshop on the Integrated Resource Plan  rulemaking today (2/10/2012). This workshop involves a presentation and stakeholder discussion of the IURC staff "strawman" draft revised rule.

If you are interested, please contact me via indianadg.org@gmail.com.

I hope to provide some additional information about the importance of this process and how it impacts the Certificate of Public Convenience and Neccessity (CPCN) which is required before an electric utitilty builds a new power plant, etc.

If you need help understanding all this utility jargon, you might want to visit this website http://www.in.gov/oucc/2381.htm that provides a glossary of utility terms.

Jurisdictional electric utilities are required to submit Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) every two years. IRPs describe how the utility plans to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient electricity at just and reasonable rates. Further, these plans must be in the public interest and consistent with state energy and environmental policies.

Each utility’s IRP explains how it will use existing and future resources to meet customer demand. When selecting these resources, the utility must consider a broad range of potential future conditions and variables and select a combination that would result in the lowest overall long-term cost for its customers.

Here is a link to actually see what one of these IRP's look like. http://www.in.gov/iurc/2630.htm