Mayor addresses rising utility bills, data centers and Hammond’s College Bound program

On rising utility costs, Mayor Tom M. McDermott Jr. told the audience that rate increases are largely driven by regulatory decisions and a mismatch between generation capacity and demand. He encouraged residents to raise concerns with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) rather than blaming data centers alone, while acknowledging data centers are large electricity users.

"If we keep shutting down power plants, we have...and we keep ramping up demand with all these data centers that are energy guzzlers," McDermott said, adding that the city seeks a partnership with NIPSCO while urging residents to appear before the IURC if they are concerned about rates.

The mayor also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the College Bound scholarship program, saying the City of Hammond has invested about $60 million over that period and that eligible students can receive about $10,000 per year for up to four years (figures given by the mayor; program rules may vary). He framed the program as a long-term investment in local residents and property values.

Why it matters: Utilities and rate-setting have immediate effects on household budgets; the mayor’s direction to target the IURC points residents toward the state regulatory process. The College Bound program represents a sustained municipal investment in education and local retention of talent.

What’s next: Residents with bill concerns can pursue regulatory comment or hearings; the city plans continued collaboration with NIPSCO but did not announce regulatory filings at this event.