Indiana's Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) are set to share office space by the end of the year. The move, confirmed by Energy and Natural Resources Secretary Suzanne Jaworowski, will relocate the agencies to newly renovated facilities on the 10th floor of the Indiana Government Center’s north building in downtown Indianapolis.
This consolidation comes as both agencies move from separate offices in the PNC Center, located a quarter-mile away. The primary driver for the move is cost savings, with Jaworowski noting the state expects to save money within three years. Combined, the OUCC and IURC currently pay approximately $1 million annually in rent at the PNC Center.
The new space at Government Center North is 22,000 square feet, which is less than half the agencies' combined current footprint. The OUCC currently occupies 18,000 square feet, and the IURC leases 27,000 square feet. Before the move, the state is investing nearly $2 million to renovate the 10th floor, which has not been updated since the 1990s. The State Budget Committee approved an initial $1 million for renovations last year, followed by an additional $950,000 in June. These renovations include updated mechanical systems, lighting, cabling, and new workstations and offices.
The OUCC, led by Counselor Abby Gray, comprises a 49-person team that intervenes in utility rate cases and other proceedings on behalf of Hoosier customers. The IURC, a 70-strong agency led by a five-person commission, regulates electricity, natural gas, and other utility providers, aiming to balance utility and consumer interests. These agencies often play competing roles in the rate cases that determine utility prices for most customers.
Despite sharing a front desk reception area, Jaworowski maintained that "there will be separation." Each agency will have its own offices, workstations, and smaller conference rooms, with badge access controlling entry to these distinct spaces. Jim Atterholt, who chaired the IURC twice between 2009 and 2017, expressed confidence in the professionalism of both agencies' staff to manage appropriate interactions, particularly regarding "ex parte conversations" and strict guidelines for active cases.
The shift to smaller office space will significantly impact the agencies' workforce. Jaworowski's office stated that the IURC will reduce its private offices from 43 to eight, and the OUCC will go from 23 to four, with these offices reserved for executive-level staff. While the total number of non-office workstations will slightly increase from 73 to 92, the substantial reduction in private offices results in a net decrease of 35 individual desks for workers.
A "large majority" of staff will begin working remotely full-time, according to Jaworowski's office, coming into the office only when required for in-person hearings and related meetings. Each agency will provide several meeting rooms that can double as "hoteling" workspaces. OUCC spokeswoman Ashley Bishop reported no current remote agreements for her agency, while IURC spokesman Ben Gavelek noted 11 remote field workers investigating violations of an Indiana law protecting underground utility lines.
This change aligns with Governor Mike Braun's "return to work" executive order issued last year, which generally prohibited hybrid and remote work for state employees, with "limited exceptions." Parvonay Stover, Jaworowski's Chief of Staff, explained that the order prompted a re-evaluation of agency operations and workspace needs. She stated that certain staff roles were identified as capable of performing effectively on a fully remote basis, making consolidation into existing state-owned facilities a sensible option. Stover added that money saved can be redirected towards the IURC and OUCC’s core missions rather than paying for unneeded space.
Atterholt suggested that employee morale could be a "bigger issue," citing a wave of retirements and higher turnover. He noted that the "phenomenal" facilities at the PNC Center, with hearing rooms equipped with streaming technology and numerous private offices, were an attraction for employees facing growing responsibilities.
There will be no lease-breaking penalties incurred with the move. The IURC’s lease at the PNC Center, renewed by Atterholt, expires at the end of this year. The OUCC’s lease, renegotiated in 2024, included a clause allowing for penalty-free termination if state funding proved inadequate, requiring only rent payment through the end of the year.
The office consolidation occurs amid significant leadership changes at the IURC. Governor Braun has appointed five commissioners this year, including a recent replacement for a pick he had previously fired. Only one commissioner, David Ziegner, retains more than a year of experience, and his term is set to expire in six months.
