Attorney General Declines Utility Opinion

(posted Jan 16)

The Indiana Attorney General declined to provide a legal opinion on the tree trimming practices of electrical utility companies in the state. As the Speedway Navigator reported on December 30, Senator Mike Delph delivered a letter from homeowners in the Trader's Point area to the Attorney General, seeking clarification on utilities' rights to enter private property to trim or remove trees believed to be interfering with power lines.

Trader's Point residents Jerry and Cindy Baker, who authored the letter, said the Attorney General stated his office might be required to represent a state entity in legal matters evolving from disputes over property rights. Despite not receiving an opinion, Jerry Baker said "Senator Mike Delph has asked us to participate in a meeting with IPL and AES executives one more time, to be sure there might not be a solution."

"That meeting will occur shortly, and we (Trader's Point community), as a courtesy to IPL, are holding all our other options until the outcome of the meeting is known."