UPDATE (August 24, 2026):
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – The state of Indiana will pay $625,000 to settle a lawsuit over the firing of Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Andy Zay.
The governor’s office announced the deal Saturday, calling it a “mutually agreeable settlement.”
Zay sued the state on August 10th, saying Governor Mike Braun did not have sufficient reason to replace him on the IURC and said Braun’s office had infringed on the commission’s statutory duty as an “impartial fact-finding body.” Neither side admitted any wrongdoing in the settlement.
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UPDATE (August 7, 2026):
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Governor Mike Braun has appointed Joshua Bain to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
Bain currently serves with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and is also an Indianapolis City-County councilor.
Braun says Bain will help keep utility rates affordable for Hoosiers. Additional appointments to the commission are expected.
The news came as we also learned that state regulators approved a smaller-than-requested rate increase for NIPSCO customers.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a $257 million increase after the utility sought $471 million.
Governor Mike Braun says the decision shows regulators will more closely scrutinize future rate requests. Braun also announced a new appointment to the commission.
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UPDATE (August 4, 2026):
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Andy Zay has been fired from the post by Governor Mike Braun. Zay had voted in favor of a rate hike for AES Indiana six weeks ago and was demoted as the IURC chair after that.
Braun fired him yesterday, with an agency spokesperson saying Zay was removed “for non-adherence to state policies and laws related to his role as Commissioner at the IURC.” The governor had appointed him and named him the chairman in December.
Braun wants the commission to revisit the $71 million rate increase approved for AES Indiana.
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PREVIOUS STORY:
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (ADAMS) – Governor Mike Braun has removed Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission chairman Andy Zay from the leadership post and replaced him with commissioner Anthony Swinger.
Braun publicly criticized the commission’s approval of an AES Indiana rate hike and made the leadership change on Monday. Zay will remain on the commission. AES Indiana was approved for a $70 million rate increase last week.
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