Our customers rely on I&M to provide power to heat and cool their homes, cook meals, charge their phones and watch television. Behind the scenes are employees who build, maintain, and repair electric lines and keep our power plants running. Behind those frontline employees, I&M's Regulatory department works to ensure I&M has the operational and financial support to keep power flowing.

Dona Seger-Lawson and Andrew Williamson are directors of I&M's Regulatory Services. They have nearly 50 years of combined experience in utility regulatory and financial services.

"Regulatory is the best place to learn the most about our company," Seger-Lawson said. "Every project we plan to implement goes through our department because we are a regulated utility and much of what we do needs to be approved by state regulatory commissions."

In Indiana, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) is responsible for overseeing utilities, and in Michigan the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) does the same. In both states, the commissioners appointed to enforce state rules and regulations also approve the rates we charge, our plans for investing in and upgrading the electric grid and the programs we offer to customers.

"All rate changes require some form of commission filing and approval. Many times, I&M compiles a filing with the commission that includes forecasted data, actual data, formal written support by subject matter experts, legal briefings, and service terms and conditions," Williamson said. "Once the filing is made, groups can intervene, ask questions and seek additional information and can file their feedback to our proposal. There is also a chance for a hearing where our witnesses are cross-examined. At the end of the process, the commission issues an order deciding to approve or modify I&M's request. Often, I&M will seek to settle a case prior to a commission order."

Rates for customers are set based on what I&M calls our cost of service. Simply put, what it costs us to provide retail electric service.

"I&M keeps enormous amounts of spreadsheets to demonstrate all of its costs and we assign these costs to customers based on the way they use our product," Seger-Lawson explains. "Some costs are demand based (kilowatts used per month), some are energy based (kilowatt hours per month (kWh) and others are decided on flat costs based on number of customers. I&M also has tariffs, which are contract terms and conditions, for what we provide to customers."

Their jobs include many meetings and spreadsheets. But there is also a focus on creating strategic relationships and making sure I&M provides safe and reliable power to our customers. That's why Williamson and Seger-Lawson both thoroughly enjoy their work.

"Over the course of my career, I've been involved in nearly all areas of our business, which is unique and challenging," Williamson said. "In addition, I really enjoy negotiating settlement agreements. It is like solving a puzzle and playing chess at the same time. It feels good to achieve business objectives in a way that is supported by our customers and stakeholders."

"I like learning new things and teaching others new things," Seger-Lawson said. "The regulatory process is made up of a little math, accounting, writing, common sense, experience and communication. We have great folks on our team and I'm excited to bring them along with me on the regulatory journey that is ahead of us."

And there is something else they agree on: the department couldn’t be successful without the support from the I&M team.

"Our fellow employees and company leaders, both at I&M and AEP, are immensely supportive of our work," Williamson said. "We are blessed to have so many talented and committed team members. I am truly thankful for all the contributions they have made to I&M and our Regulatory team."

Do you have skills in engineering, technical trades, finance, customer care, or in something that doesn't fit neatly under a label? We've got a place for you at I&M and AEP.  To learn more about the careers we offer, haga clic aquí.