The Denver, Colorado based company that hired former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to be a lobbyist in Indiana has released more information about the hiring explaining he is the perfect man for the job in the company’s fight with two utilities.
Hallador Inc, parent company of Rail Point Solutions LLC said in the announcement that Pruitt was hired as a lobbyist “to attempt to protect the ratepayers of Indiana from Vectren and NIPSCO rate increases.”
Hallador said the two Indiana utilities are proposing policies to increase customers’ electricity bills. The company explained Vectren and NIPSCO want the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to close utility plants based on Obama era rules. The rules are targeted by the Trump administration.
“Their argument is that no one knows what the new rules will look like so we should hurry and make permanent decisions today. Who better than Scott Pruitt to aid the Indiana legislature on what Trump energy policy will look like?,” stated the company.
Hallador contends both utilities will get accelerated payments if the Indiana regulators approve the closing of some of their plants. It also says a ruling would bring profits to shareholders at the expense of their customers.
” We are asking the legislature to add two sentences to the budget bill that prevent the IURC from making decisions based on rules that the EPA is currently reconsidering, and in some instances has already reversed. We are asking the Indiana legislature to act and prevent rates from increasing unnecessarily,” stated the company.
Pruitt resigned as Oklahoma Attorney General to take the EPA appointment from President Trump, but resigned last year amidst several scandals.