From the Associated Press — Reaction has been running negative in public hearings toward Indiana Michigan Power’s request for a nearly 20 percent rate hike to improve its electric distribution system in Indiana. People living in the Fort Wayne area said during a public meeting Tuesday that they can’t afford the estimated $26 monthly increase, which could go into effect by July 2018. If the increase is approved, the utility would receive more than $260 million for electric infrastructure improvements. Those include replacing poles and
overhead and underground power lines, and trimming trees to decrease the chances of falling trees causing power outages. Another public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30. The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission will rule later on the rate-hike request. The utility company has about 460,000 residential and business customers in northern and northeastern Indiana.
