Indiana Tree Alliance contacts:

Jerry Baker 8561 Moore RD Indianapolis, IN 46278	Charles H Goodman 2313 N Graham AVE                 Indianapolis, IN 46218 Phone: 317.356.2499 click to email Mr. Goodman
comments or input about the website:

Join the Indiana Tree Alliance:
If you would like to join the ITA please fill out the from at the end of this PDF and return to us.

Your State Legislators:
Visit our Write a Letter - Save a Tree page for details on how to reach your State legislators and which ones your should write.

The OUCC and IURC:
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) will conclude a statewide investigation into utility tree trimming practices and tariffs.  This is a critical development in the effort to pass effective legislation towards curbing abusive tree trimming and violations of property rights by electric utilities.

The IURC investigation is the direct result of a petition filed by Charles Goodman, a volunteer citizen lobbyist, representing hundreds of property owners, and Senator James Merritt, Jr., chairman of the Senate Utility Committee, who has decided to delay legislation while the IURC gathers information statewide. A status report by the IURC to the Legislature is due December 1st, 2009.  However, the IURC investigation will continue through January 6th, 2010. This investigation is the key to forge real change.

Now is the time to tell your story — any grievance you have had with the power line tree-trimming crews, or with policies of your electric utility, should be put on record now! Don't wait for the chainsaws to return to your neighborhood to complain. Mr. Goodman has gotten serious State-level attention for this matter, and if this opportunity is wasted, this issue may never be taken seriously again.

Here is what you can do.   Write, fax or e-mail your complaint, story, or comments to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor—OUCC—at the addresses below.  DO THIS NOW!

Reference IURC Cause #43663

E-mail:  uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
Fax:    317.232.5923
Mail:    Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor          
            115 W Washington ST, Suite 1500 South 
            Indianapolis, IN 46204                                                                       

Please send a copy of your OUCC correspondence to Charles Goodman for the purpose of an archive that he can refer to if necessary.

The OUCC technical and legal team assigned to this case will review all letters from consumers, which will be filed with the IURC for inclusion in the case's formal evidentiary record and their report to the Legislature.

Please follow through and tell your story factually and thoughtfully to have it included in the record. The utilities like to believe, and tell everyone who will listen, that "only a few people are unhappy about how they cut trees"

Appear in Person:
At some time after August 19th, the IURC will hold field hearings where you can appear in person and provide oral comments under oath.  When the schedule for these hearings is available, we will forward it, or you will be able to find it on the OUCC website at www.IN.gov/oucc. You can also monitor local newspapers, legal notices and television.

You can participate in the hearings even if you have already sent a letter. You can either read the complete letter into the record, give a summary of your thoughts and  a typed copy of your full remarks to the court, or simply offer your letter for inclusion. Or, you can offer a different slant on your opinions or experiences.