State lawmaker opposes rate hike for Indy electric car share program

A state representative has registered her disapproval of a planned rate increase to help fund an electric car-sharing program in Indianapolis.

In a letter to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, said it was unfair to ask all IPL electrical customers to pay for a program serving people renting cars in Indianapolis.

"It is particularly outrageous that this demand is being made of ratepayers who do not even live within Indianapolis or Marion County," Pryor wrote. "I believe that is the living definition of taxation without representation."

Indianapolis Power and Light and the city are asking state regulators for a possible $16 million rate hike to cover the cost of the program, to be run by Bollore Group, a French conglomerate, and called BlueIndy.

The rate increase would amount to 44 cents a month for the typical customer beginning in January 2018.

IPL claims it would cost $12.3 million to install charging stations at 200 locations across the city and about $4 million to extend electrical lines to those stations.

Bollore is in the process of setting up 500 plug-in electric cars at sites across town that residents can rent for as little as 15 minutes.

The IURC is considering the request. Pryor said ratepayers should not be asked to subsidize multi-national corporations.

"This request would set a terrible precedent," Pryor said. "Ratepayers currently pay for service they use. This request, if approved, tells businesses they don't need to take on any fiscal risk because ratepayers and/or taxpayers will foot the bill."

Marc Lotter, a spokesman for Mayor Greg Ballard, said there was a wider benefit for the community.

"IPL is seeking installation of charging stations that would benefit anyone driving an electric car," he said. "This service will provide access to cars to seniors, low-income residents and anyone else who can't afford a car. This strengthens mass transit."

Lotter said the rate increase is a "worst-case scenario" if IPL doesn't recoup installation costs from Bollore under a revenue sharing plan.

Call Star reporter John Tuohy at 444-6418 and follow on Twitter @john_tuohy.