FACT-CHECK: Rep. Messmer's Energy Letter
FACT-CHECK: Rep. Messmer's Energy Letter
Setting the Record Straight on Indiana's Electric Rates
Context: U.S. Rep. Messmer sent a letter to constituents blaming "the Left" for high energy costs and praising the Trump administration's coal policies. Here are the facts about who actually controls Indiana's energy policy and electric rates.
CLAIM: "The Left" caused high energy costs
FACT: Indiana has had a Republican governor since 2005 and Republican supermajority since 2011. That's 20 years of Republican control over Indiana energy policy. Democrats have had ZERO control of Indiana's utility regulation, rate setting, or energy infrastructure decisions.
CLAIM: Renewable energy made electricity expensive
FACT: CenterPoint just raised rates 20% (approved by the Republican-controlled Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission). This increase has nothing to do with renewable energy and everything to do with utility companies being allowed to pass costs to consumers. When State Rep. Tim O'Brien had the chance to vote for a 3% rate cap, he voted NO.
CLAIM: Keeping coal plants open will provide "affordable" energy
FACT: The two coal plants (F.B. Culley and R.M. Schahfer) were scheduled to close by NIPSCO for ECONOMIC reasons—coal is more expensive than alternatives. Forcing them to stay open under an "emergency order" doesn't lower rates; it may raise them by subsidizing uneconomical plants. CenterPoint's 20% rate increase already happened—keeping coal plants open won't reverse it.
What Indiana Republicans ACTUALLY Did on Energy Policy:
• Passed laws making YOU pay for nuclear plants BEFORE they're built (SB 424, signed by Gov. Braun)
• Approved CenterPoint's 20% rate increase through the Republican-controlled IURC
• Gave Big Tech data centers subsidized rates while residential customers pay more
• Voted DOWN consumer protections when Democrats proposed them in HB1002
State Rep. Tim O'Brien's Votes on HB1002 Consumer Protections:
• Voted NO on capping rate increases at 3% (Amendment #16)
• Voted NO on freezing utility fixed charges for 2 years (Amendment #19)
• Voted NO on requiring utilities to compensate customers for extended outages (Amendment #7)
• Voted NO on community solar programs (Amendment #4)
• Voted NO on temporary sales tax relief for utility bills (Amendment #10)
THE BOTTOM LINE:
• Rep. Messmer is blaming 'the Left' for problems created by 20 years of Republican state energy policy.
• Your electric rates are controlled by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission—Republican appointees.
• CenterPoint's 20% rate increase was approved by Indiana Republicans, not federal policy.
• State Rep. Tim O'Brien voted AGAINST consumer protections 11 times on a single bill.
• You can't blame Democrats for Republican policies when Republicans control everything.
What You Can Do: Ask Rep. Messmer why he's blaming "the Left" instead of holding State Rep. O'Brien accountable for voting against rate caps. Contact your state legislators about HB1002 before the Senate votes. Remember who voted for what when you go to the polls.
Sources: Indiana General Assembly HB1002 voting records, IURC rate decisions, Indiana Code SB 424 (2025). All facts are verifiable through public records.