INDIANAPOLIS — As temperatures drop during October’s Energy Awareness Month, one west-side resident is asking why her energy bills for a 126-year-old home rival the costs of commercial buildings.
Shana Grever contacted Indiana’s I-Team after her AES Indiana electricity bills showed “unusually high” energy usage. Despite living in a 1,700-square-foot house, Grever said her consumption spikes drastically in the winter.
“My house is not very big,” Grever said.
While her home uses 2,000 to 3,000 kilowatts in the summer, that figure jumps to more than 13,000 kilowatts during the winter months.
“I have friends who own commercial properties, and they say their kilowatts aren’t even that much,” Grever said. “It’s like a commercial building.”
The high usage led to bills totaling thousands of dollars. Grever said she recently paid nearly $4,600 to restore service after the utility disconnected her power three weeks ago.
The I-Team visited Grever’s west-side home Sept. 14. During the visit, Grever kept almost all lights off to save money.
“My kids call me a vampire because my lights are always off,” Grever said. “I try to conserve as much as I can.”
The family previously updated the heating and cooling system and replaced windows and appliances. Grever admitted she keeps the house cool, setting the thermostat at 68 degrees.
“All jokes aside, I’m a menopausal woman,” she said.
Grever described the situation as emotionally and financially draining. After Indiana’s I-Team contacted AES, the utility stated that while usage is high, data shows no metering or billing errors.
AES officials met with Grever and Indiana’s I-Team on Sept. 30 at her home to conduct an energy efficiency assessment. Adam Hammond, a manager with AES customer programs, said several factors impact a bill:
Hammond found that the house’s structure and condition play a major role in the high costs. During the inspection, he pointed out disconnected ductwork in the basement.
“I can stick my hand in here,” Hammond said.
AES also identified a gap leading into the attic that leaks air. Hammond compared the leak to leaving a window open several inches all winter. He also noted that the attic storage prevents proper insulation.
“A properly insulated attic, all of this should be filled with insulation,” Hammond said.
The utility typically uses a blower door test to pinpoint where a home loses treated air. However, AES could not perform the test because of mold in Grever’s basement.
The utility referred Grever to the Indiana Community Action Association to address health and safety issues.
“Once those are buttoned up, they’ll let us know, and we’ll come back in, and we’ll do the weatherization, including air sealing, duct sealing, and attic insulation,” Hammond said.
Such problems are common in Indianapolis, where many homes are more than a century old.
To help with the debt, AES offered Grever a 36-month payment plan. AES spokesperson Claire Rice said in an email that the arrangement allows Grever to spread the past-due balance over a longer period to maintain service.
Families of four with a household income of about $66,000 may qualify for free in-home energy assessments. Other customers can sign up for virtual assessments through the AES website.
Customers who meet income requirements can receive free in-home energy assessments and home upgrades that can help decrease your energy bills and increase your comfort.
CLEAResult is the largest provider of energy efficiency, energy transition, and sustainability services in North America. Indiana AES customers can access CLEAResult YouTube videos by navigating to an AES Indiana webpage that leads to the CLEAResult’s program portal, where the Learning Academy is housed. It’s accessible when customers sign into their online accounts.
AES Indiana has updated its billing program to comply with House Enrolled Act 1002 passed in 2026, which requires all investor-owned utilities to transition budget billing programs to a new statewide standard called “levelized billing.” AES explains how it works on its website.
