News & Events

Citizens Energy Group, IN Debt Rating Outlook Revised To Positive On Healthy Fixed-Cost Coverage, Liquidity; 'A+' Rating Affirmed

• S&P Global Ratings revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed its 'A+' long-term rating on Indianapolis' thermal energy system (doing business as Citizens Energy Group) debt outstanding.

• At the same time, S&P Global Ratings assigned its 'A+' long-term rating to the thermal energy system's approximately $63 million series 2025A first-lien utility revenue bonds, issued by the Indiana Finance Authority.

• The outlook revision reflects healthy fixed-cost coverage (FCC) and liquidity in fiscal 2024 and our expectation that FCC will materially improve in the next several years as debt service declines.

Mamuska-Morris Began Her Citizens Career in 2001 as a Plant Engineer  
 
INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group announced today that Sara Mamuska-Morris has been named Vice President, Capital Programs & Engineering. Mamuska-Morris succeeds Mark Jacob, who retired earlier in March after more than 13 years at Citizens.   

“Over the past 24 years, Sara Mamuska-Morris has served Citizens in a variety of roles that include Thermal and Gas Engineering, Operations, Business Development, and Treasury, where she served as Director for seven years. In her most recent role as Director of Market Development, Sara was responsible for maximizing customer growth through retention and new business development as well as maintaining key customer relationships,” said Jeffrey Harrison, Citizens President & CEO. “Sara is a talented leader with a broad understanding of our organization, and I look forward to the depth of experience she will bring to her new role.” 

Prior to joining Citizens in 2001, Mamuska-Morris held engineering positions with Indianapolis Power & Light, R.W. Beck, Inc., the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, and ABB. She earned Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering and materials engineering from University of Connecticut, holds an MBA in finance from Indiana University, and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Indiana. 

Mamuska-Morris also is involved with several community organizations, currently serving on the board of trustees for St. Richard’s Episcopal School, as board chair for Energy Plus Credit Union, and as a committee member at St. Mary’s Early Childhood Center. She is part of the 2025 cohort of the IU Indy Women’s Executive Leadership Institute and is a graduate of the United Way Executive Women Leadership Program.

Cummins VP of Marketing and Communications Carole Casto Appointed to Board of Trustees

INDIANAPOLIS – Cummins Vice President of Marketing and Communications Carole Casto has been appointed to Citizens Energy Group’s five-member Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees’ primary function is to make nominations for vacancies to both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors. 

A trailblazer since joining Cummins in 2003, Casto has focused on enhancing productivity while championing diversity and inclusion. She also excels at leading transformations to improve performance. Throughout her career, Casto has held leadership positions including Executive Director of Corporate Communications, Director of Community Engagement, Director of Community Development, Six Sigma Quality Champion, LDS Implementation Leader, and Six Sigma Black Belt. Prior to Cummins, she served in a variety of leadership roles at the State of Indiana. 

She earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at Marquette University. 

Casto is a board member of the Indiana Latino Institute and served as the moderator for the 2024 Latino Leadership Circle Cohort. Additionally, she is on the Marquette University Dean’s Advisory Council, and she previously served the Economic Club of Indiana and the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce. In addition to joining Citizens Board of Trustees in 2025, Casto will return to the Indianapolis Chamber Executive Committee, continuing her commitment to service and the Indianapolis community.

Among Casto’s professional achievements are being named to PR Week’s Women to Watch; _Indianapolis Business Journal’_s Woman of Influence and Forty Under 40; and Marquette University’s Top 100 Alumnae. 

Casto’s appointment to the Board of Trustees follows the retirement of Jackie Nytes, who served on the Board for 12 years, including one year as Vice President. 

Citizens President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison said, “Citizens Energy Group is pleased to announce Carole Casto as the newest member of our Board of Trustees. She is a dynamic leader with a depth and breadth of experience at Cummins and beyond that will serve Citizens well. As we welcome Carole, we also thank Jackie Nytes for more than a decade of dedicated service on the Board of Trustees.”

Fitch Ratings - New York - 13 Nov 2024: Fitch Ratings has affirmed the rating on the following Indianapolis, IN water system revenue bonds issued on behalf of the city's Board of Directors for Utilities of its Department of Public Utilities, doing business as Citizens Energy Group (Citizens or the system) at 'AA-':

• Approximately $56 million outstanding first-lien water revenue bonds issued by the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank (ILPIBB) series 2007B;
• Approximately $57 million outstanding first-lien water revenue bonds issued by the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) series 2014A and 2016A;
• Approximately $479 million outstanding first-lien revenue bonds issued by the city series 2016B and series 2018A.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

The water utility is kicking off a major construction effort in the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood.

INDIANAPOLIS—Citizens Energy Group today joined leaders from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, the City of Indianapolis, and the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood to showcase the impact of construction crews replacing customer-owned lead service lines. Citizens recently began construction in a segment of the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood, the largest area thus far within the program Citizens is implementing.

Photos from the event are included at the bottom of this release, including a photo of ongoing construction at a site along N Parker Avenue. More information on the lead service line replacement program is available here. 

“Martindale Brightwood is one of many neighborhoods that will soon see construction crews proactively replacing lead service lines block by block,” said Mark Jacob, Vice President of Capital Programs & Engineering at Citizens. “It goes without saying that full replacement of our customers’ lead service lines at no additional cost to them is the surest way to help our neighbors reduce their exposure to lead.”

While water in the utility’s distribution system does not contain lead, Citizens is implementing a program, first approved in 2022, to replace all customer-owned water service lines made of lead that connect homes and buildings to public water mains. To date, the program’s replacements have largely been completed in coordination with other utility maintenance projects or when utility line relocations were required by roadway improvement projects. Martindale Brightwood is Citizens’ largest proactive focus area thus far in which crews are mobilized for the sole purpose of replacing lead service lines.

“We are encouraged to see the steps being taken in this neighborhood—and many others in the future—to mitigate lead exposure in our communities,” said Brian Rockensuess, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). “IDEM continues to be a strong supporter of programs that get the lead out, and we encourage education at the community level explaining how Hoosiers can limit lead exposure in soil, dust, air, or water.”

Many homes built in Indianapolis before 1950 – including a majority of those in the Martindale Brightwood area – still include service lines made of lead, a common building material used through the middle of the 20th century.

“Martindale Brightwood is a neighborhood with a long history, and the age of many of our homes means that neighbors are likely to own a lead service line,” said Elizabeth Gore, Chair of the Martindale Brightwood Environmental Justice Collaborative. “But we have deep roots here, and our neighborhood will continue to organize ourselves in support of programs like this one that are critical for the community’s health.”

Citizens estimates that more than 75,000 customers may own or rent a home with a service line made of either lead or a galvanized metal requiring replacement. The program Citizens is implementing has been estimated to cost more than $500 million, though the utility has received more than $20 million to date in outside financing for the program; to accelerate the pace of replacements, Citizens will continue to apply for funding from foundations, endowments, and government programs that align with the project’s community health goals of limiting lead exposure.

Proactive focus areas are prioritized based on several factors, including the number of known or suspected lead service lines in an area, the potential for health risks, neighborhood economic impacts, and inter-agency coordination ahead of other planned infrastructure work in the area, which helps lessen construction impacts and overall project costs.

About the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, implemented by Citizens Energy Group: 

Tens of thousands of Citizens customers own homes or buildings that include a customer-owned water service line made of lead or containing lead (particularly homes built before 1950). Approved in 2022, the multi-year lead service line replacement program is identifying customer-owned service lines that contain lead and replacing them at no additional cost to the customer. 
 
Citizens regularly monitors tap water throughout the public system and at points within customers’ homes in accordance with U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. Drinking water remains fully compliant with all federal and state water quality requirements.  Still, the surest method to avoid lead exposure in drinking water is to replace customer-owned service lines made of lead. Replacements will be accomplished in several ways: in coordination with infrastructure improvement projects; in proactive focus neighborhoods; or as initiated by customers for the upgrade or maintenance of their own service line. 

Learn more about the lead service line replacement program Citizens is implementing by clicking here. 

[Image above: City-County Councilor Ron Gibson (District 8) addresses a crowd of photographers and neighbors from Martindale Brightwood regarding the ongoing work to replace lead service lines in the neighborhood.]

[Image above: Mrs. Elizabeth Gore addresses a crowd of photographers and neighbors from Martindale Brightwood regarding the ongoing work to replace lead service lines in the neighborhood.]

[Image above: A guide line pulls a blue plastic water service line into place, the replacement for a lead service line which has just been removed at a residence along N Parker Avenue. The service line connects the public water main to the home's plumbing.]

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About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 900,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities for the benefit of customers and the community.

Media Contact Information
Ben Easley
Phone: 317-519-1515
Email: media@citizensenergygroup.com

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group (“Citizens”) today broke ground on a multi-year project to upgrade four miles of legacy natural gas pipeline at key locations on the east side of Indianapolis, made possible by a $7.5 million federal grant. Citizens leadership, U.S. Congressman André Carson, local Indianapolis leaders, and Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) provided remarks commending the impact that projects like this one can have on a community.

Photos of the groundbreaking and a new construction site near Millersville Road are included below.

“Citizens continues to work toward improving our infrastructure, securing outside funding where we can for upgrades across our various utility systems,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “We’re building upon decades of pipeline safety improvements within our nearly 4,000-mile system by making this four-mile portion even more resistant to corrosion via new contemporary plastic pipeline.”

Construction begins in 2024 on a portion of natural gas main in the Avondale Meadows neighborhood, generally along the Rural Street corridor between Fall Creek and 30th Street. The next two years will see additional construction along this same corridor south into the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood and at the site of a legacy natural gas main in the Far Eastside neighborhood installed more than 70 years ago. When the project is complete, the entirety of Citizens' 4,000-mile system of natural gas mains will be composed of this safer style of plastic pipeline.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to deliver," said Congressman André Carson. "Indiana alone has already received $7.9 billion for necessary improvement to our roads, public transit, and airports. Now, we’re ensuring the safety of our neighborhoods by upgrading natural gas main lines – and it’s all thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which I proudly championed. Together, we can improve public health and safety and reduce methane emissions that could otherwise be a threat to our community for years to come.”

Citizens was one of 37 recipients for this round of infrastructure funding via a Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (“PHMSA”, an agency of the U.S. Department of Transportation). Within the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this grant program will provide nearly $1 billion of funding exclusively for publicly- and community-owned gas utilities (including Indianapolis as a recipient).

“PHMSA is proud to join Citizens Energy Group and Congressman Carson to break ground on this expedited effort to replace 4 miles of aged, leak-prone, cast iron pipe across Indianapolis,” said PHMSA Deputy Administrator Tristan Brown. “Funding for this project was made possible by the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, supporting this project to increase pipeline safety, reduce pollution, and save people money on their energy bills.”

Key goals of the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization grant include enhancing pipeline safety and preventing pipeline leaks, which can have impacts on the improvement of public safety and public health outcomes for neighborhoods in addition to reducing methane emissions from natural gas distribution pipes.

“In Martindale Brightwood, our neighborhood is guided by resident-influenced Quality of Life goals, several of which speak to the safety of our infrastructure,” said Barato Britt, President & CEO of Edna Martin Christian Center. “This project represents an investment in the long-term health and safety of our residents, and I want our neighbors to see and hear about the work that will be done to sustain our vibrant community.”

Citizens’ natural gas system has been recognized as one of the safest, best maintained urban gas utilities in the U.S., a comparison confirmed by an ongoing leak detection study by the Environmental Defense Fund. For more information on the construction progress and phasing of this ongoing effort, please visit www.citizensnergygroup.com/castironreplacement.  

About the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) develops and enforces regulations for the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's 3.4-million-mile pipeline transportation system and the nearly 1.2 million daily shipments of hazardous materials by land, sea, and air. In 2023, PHMSA announced $196 million in grant funds would be awarded to the first round of recipients in a new Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) grant program, established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 900,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities for the benefit of customers and the community.

Media Contact Information
Ben Easley
Phone: 317-519-1515
Email: media@citizensenergygroup.com

INDIANAPOLIS – May 9, 2024 – This morning, Mayor Joe Hogsett, the Office of Minority and Women Business Development, EmployIndy, and over 50 local employers gathered at the 23rd Annual Mayor’s Celebration of Diversity Awards to recognize organizations who demonstrate inclusivity in the workplace and are dedicated to supporting diverse individuals and continuing progress in our community. This year’s event took place in-person at the Culinary and Conference Center at Ivy Tech Community College, with over 400 in attendance to hear local leaders share their experiences and best practices for progressing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.  

This event places a special emphasis on the importance of supporting youth employment in Marion County as proceeds go to support Project Indy, an initiative developed by Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2016 and housed within EmployIndy. Through Project Indy’s virtual platform that utilizes text messaging to recruit and onboard job seekers, nearly 18,000 young adults in Marion County have been connected to work experiences that build their employability skills and allow them to explore new career fields. 

“My congratulations to all of this year's Mayor's Celebration of Diversity Award winners,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “We extend this recognition each year because diversity is one of our city’s greatest strengths – and embracing that diversity, ensuring every resident has the opportunity to participate in our growth and success, benefits our whole community.” 

A new award was added to this year’s event; the Excellence in Service Community-Based Organization (CBO) Award. This award celebrates a non-profit community-based organization that provides excellent and inclusive workforce development services to Marion County residents and employers. 

In total, seven awards were given at this year’s event with unique focuses including celebrating the quality of services delivered by community-based organizations, impact of youth apprenticeships, good wages and employee support, excelling in youth employment, diversity in leadership, and a focus on workplace culture. 

“EmployIndy is excited to partner with Mayor Hogsett and the City of Indianapolis to recognize organizations who have proven their commitment to equitable practices in hiring, leadership, quality jobs, culture, and service delivery,” said Marie Mackintosh, president & CEO of EmployIndy. “This year’s new award for Community-Based Organizations aligns with our strategic focus on building capacity among our ecosystem partners to ensure quality career coaching and employment services are delivered across Marion County.” 

Award recipients at this year’s event are as follows: 

“Excellence in Service Community-Based Organization (CBO) Award” was awarded to Keys2Work for their provision of excellent and inclusive workforce development services to Marion County residents and employers. 

“Dr. Mechelle Polter Youth Apprenticeship Employer of the Year” was awarded to Indianapolis Airport Authority for their dedication to providing high school students with a positive trajectory to actively pursue a career by providing valuable, paid apprenticeship opportunities that complement their traditional coursework. 

“Choice Employer” was awarded to Citizens Energy Group for offering all full-time employees a good wage of $18 an hour and benefits and embodies the traits of a “Choice Employer,” by creating a work environment that focuses on supporting Career Pathways, Culture and Diversity, and Employee Resources. 

“Excellence in Youth Employment” was awarded to Arcamed LLC for their commitment to offering youth and young adults in Indianapolis an opportunity for their first job and embraces a culture that promotes the personal growth of those individuals through mentoring and advancement. 

“Diversity in Workforce” was awarded to O’Neal Manufacturing Services who, in the past year, successfully implemented best practices to support workforce diversity.  

“Diversity in Leadership” was awarded to Morales Group Staffing who cultivates an atmosphere of growth, particularly when considering upper-level diversity as well as actively supporting a diverse organizational culture. 

“Sam H. Jones ‘Best of the Best’” was awarded to Indy Equity Collaborative for exemplary performance in all aspects of diversity. 

Individuals who are interested in supporting youth employment in Marion County through Project Indy can donate online at www.employindy.org/mcod-donate. More information about Project Indy can be found at projectindy.net.

S&P Global ratings raised its rating on Indiana Finance Authority's (IFA) outstanding revenue bonds, issued for Citizens Wastewater of Westfield LLC (Westfield Wastewater), to 'AA' from 'AA-'.

• In addition, S&P Global Ratings assigned its 'AA' long-term rating to IFA's $20 million series 2024A wastewater utility revenue bonds, issued for Westfield Wastewater. 
• The outlook is stable. 
• The upgrade is due to strong and supportive management policies, a service base that continues to support strong rate affordability, consistent rate case approvals from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), and steady financial performance that we believe is sustainable.
• Limiting further upside is historical fluctuation in system liquidity and limitations due to  regulatory oversight and corporate structure that introduces uncertainty regarding debt restructuring risk.

S&P Global Ratings raised its long-term rating to 'AA' from 'AA-' on the Indiana Finance Authority's (IFA) revenue bonds outstanding, issued for Citizens Water of Westfield LLC (Westfield Water).

• At the same time, S&P Global Ratings assigned its 'AA' long-term rating to the IFA's $20 million series 2024A water
  utility revenue bonds, issued for Westfield Water's water system.
• The outlook is stable.
• The higher rating is based on strong and supportive management policies, a service base that continues to support strong rate affordability, consistent rate-case approvals from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), and steady financial performance that we believe is sustainable. Limiting further upside are historical fluctuations in system liquidity and limitations due to regulatory oversight and a corporate structure that introduces uncertainty regarding debt restructuring risk.

Five billion gallons of sewage have now been prevented from entering waterways by the tunnel system as newly planted trees will store stormwater and sequester carbon.

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group employee volunteers today planted the 10,000th tree in the “10 Thousand Trees” initiative, achieving the multi-year goal set by a coalition of partners including Citizens Energy Group, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. and the City of Indianapolis. Noting the appropriate timing of the planting on Arbor Day, community leaders celebrated the impact of the initiative in parks and neighborhoods across the city where trees will serve to hold stormwater and sequester carbon as an important complement to the DigIndy Tunnel System.

“Purposeful positioning of tree plantings above ground plays such a key role in what we are working to achieve deep underground with the DigIndy infrastructure: keeping wastewater from overflowing into our local waterways,” said Citizens Energy Group President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison. “Trees provide so many important benefits in our communities, including absorbing stormwater before it even enters our sewer systems.”

The active portions of the DigIndy Tunnel System already have prevented more than 5 billion gallons of sewage from entering local waterways. In comparison, this is 1.5 billion gallons greater than the total capacity of Citizens Reservoir in northeast Indianapolis. When completed in 2025, the DigIndy Tunnel System will divert at least 95 percent of all wastewater overflows from Indianapolis’ combined sewer systems away from nearby creeks and into Citizens facilities for treatment before safe release into the White River.

Employee volunteers from Citizens Energy Group gathered to plant approximately 60 trees at Windsor Village Park on the city’s far east side, including the ceremonial 10,000th tree. Other planting locations in years past have included Haughville Park, Frederick Douglass Park, and along roadways in neighborhoods across Indianapolis, as coordinated by Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.

Pictures from today's event are at the bottom of this release.

“Today we pass a critical milestone in this partnership between Citizens Energy Group and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful,” said Jeremy Kranowitz, President and CEO of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. This powerful relationship is rare in the U.S., and we are fortunate in Indianapolis to share a vision for a city that is both greener and healthier. The 10,000 trees we have planted together, with volunteers across the city, are making dozens of neighborhoods cooler in the summer and less likely to flood during major rain events.”

Started in 2017 as a partnership between Citizens, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB), and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, tree plantings have been targeted within the city’s combined sewer area—generally older parts of the city where historic development linked stormwater and wastewater sewers, leading to sewer overflows into rivers during rain events. As described in Citizens’ recent 2023 Sustainability Report, the 10 Thousand Trees initiative was developed to provide up to an estimated one million gallons of natural stormwater storage during such rain events. As of year-end 2023, the tree-planting effort was also estimated to have sequestered more than 180 tons of carbon since the program began, with an increasing rate of carbon sequestration as trees mature.

“It’s impossible to fully grasp the tangible and intangible benefits that trees bring to our neighborhoods,” said Councilor Keith Graves, representing City-County Council District 9. “Windsor Village Park is a hub for community activity on the east side, and our neighbors will be breathing, feeling, and seeing the improved quality of life in this corner of the city of generations to come.”

About the DigIndy Tunnel System:
The DigIndy Tunnel System is a 28-mile network of 18-foot diameter deep rock tunnels being built 250 feet beneath the city. Along with other projects in the combined sewer system and at two advanced wastewater treatment plants, the $2 billion program is Indy’s solution to reducing combined sewer overflows into area waterways, keeping the utility and the City of Indianapolis in compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Now more than a decade in the making, completed portions of the DigIndy Tunnel System have prevented 5 billion gallons of sewage from entering our local waterways. Construction will conclude and the entire system will be operational in 2025. 
Learn more about DigIndy online, and check out the 360 VR Tunnel Tour on YouTube. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group has secured $11 million in no-interest and forgivable loans from the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) to accelerate its program to replace customer-owned lead service lines in Indianapolis neighborhoods. The multi-year lead service line replacement program was approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.  

The total program is expected to cost approximately $500 million. It is estimated that approximately 55,000 customers in Citizens’ service territory own lead service lines connecting the utility’s water main to a home or business. Customer-owned lead service lines in Indianapolis are most commonly present in structures built before 1950. 

The lead service line replacement program which Citizens is implementing kicked off in 2022 with more than 400 homeowner-owned service lines replaced in the first year. A new focus area of the program will be its largest to date, taking place in the Martindale-Brightwood neighborhood. Citizens has closely collaborated with neighborhood and city stakeholders to prepare for construction. 

“As a partner in the broader community effort to enhance the overall quality of life for Martindale Brightwood residents, the coalition of neighborhood partners is excited about the significant investments being made to improve livability,” said Barato Britt, President and CEO of the Edna Martin Christian Center. “With residents and stakeholders presently engaged in a new Quality of Life Plan, external partners like Citizens Energy Group have lent valuable input and resources consistent with the neighborhood's goals and demands. We're pleased that this deserving community has been identified for this critical investment.” 

Program areas are prioritized based on several factors, including the number of known or suspected lead service lines in an area, the potential for health risks, neighborhood economic impacts, and inter-agency coordination ahead of other planned infrastructure work in the area, which helps lessen construction impacts and overall project costs. 

Citizens regularly monitors tap water in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to confirm that finished water is safe for drinking. In addition to regular water monitoring, Citizens takes steps during the water treatment process to ensure finished drinking water has the proper quality to help protect against lead leaching out of customer-owned lead service lines and plumbing. Full replacement of customer-owned service lines as outlined in the program gives the highest protection against the presence of lead in drinking water. 

"This funding is a significant investment not only in infrastructure, but in the lives of Hoosiers in some of Indianapolis’ most historic communities,” IDEM Commissioner Brian Rockensuess said. “Private lead service lines are the most common source of lead in water. Replacing these pipes ensures water arriving in homes is at safe health standards and is a vital upgrade that may be out of reach for people to make on an individual basis.” 

About the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, implemented by Citizens Energy Group:

Tens of thousands of Citizens customers own homes or buildings which were connected to the water system prior to 1950 and also own the water service lines which are therefore more likely to be made of lead or contain lead. Approved in 2022, the LSLRP is a multi-year program to investigate customer-owned service lines that may contain lead and replace them at no additional cost to the customer.

Citizens regularly monitors tap water from customers’ homes in accordance with U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule and remains fully compliant with all federal and state water quality requirements. Still, the surest method to avoid lead exposure in drinking water is to fully replace customer-owned service lines made of lead or containing lead-based connections. Replacements will be accomplished in several ways: in coordination with infrastructure improvement projects; in proactive focus neighborhoods; or as initiated by customers for the upgrade or maintenance of their own service line.

Learn more about the lead service line replacement program which Citizens is implementing by clicking here. 

About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 900,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities for the benefit of customers and the community.

As Citizens accelerates Lead Service Line Replacement Program in 2024, crews will work with Indy DPW to complete replacements at buildings adjacent to road construction zones, including along E New York and E Michigan streets. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group today announced a collaboration with the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) to complete lead service line replacements for homes and buildings along city crews' upcoming roadway construction zones. With service line replacements beginning in the next days and weeks along E New York and E Michigan streets, the partnership on roadway capital projects is one of several ways Citizens will accelerate the lead service line replacement program in 2024.

Citizens and Indy DPW made the announcement Monday at a site along E Michigan Street where Citizens will soon complete lead service line replacements ahead of Indy DPW's coming work to convert the roadway to two-way traffic. In their remarks, city and community leaders noted the efficiency accomplished by the collaboration--residents will see two different projects completed more quickly, without multiple excavations of the roadway. An image from the press announcement is at the bottom of this release.

"When we work together, it is our customers—the residents of Indianapolis—who share in the benefits of more efficient, less intrusive construction projects," said Citizens Energy Group CEO and President Jeffrey Harrison.

The lead service line replacement program Citizens is implementing will replace all customer-owned service lines made of lead at homes and buildings across Indianapolis at no additional cost for customers. While there is no lead in water distributed to Citizens customers, the surest way to provide the highest protection against lead exposure in drinking water is through full replacement for customers who own lead service lines.

"On one hand, we are removing the potential for exposure to lead in drinking water by replacing property owners’ lead service lines," said Mayor Joe Hogsett. "But with a two-way conversion, we are restoring part of that ‘neighborhood’ feeling these streets once had."

As part of the two-way street conversion capital projects, E Michigan and E New York street--between College Avenue and Ellenberger Park--are two of the initial collaboration zones with Indy DPW for lead service line replacement; this is in addition to W Michigan Street alongside Indy DPW's West Michigan Street Road Diet project. Citizens customers in these areas with lead service lines have received or will soon receive mailed packets with information on how to participate in a replacement from Citizens crews.

The multi-year lead service line replacement program kicked off in 2022, with Citizens crews replacing more than 400 service lines in the first year. Citizens will accelerate the program in 2024 by increasing replacements through partnerships on roadway capital projects; maintenance- or resident-initiated replacements; and proactive replacements in designated focus neighborhoods.

Citizens and Indy DPW regularly work together to increase efficiencies on capital projects, and both have indicated interest in further aligning lead service line replacements and roadways improvements where possible to more quickly and efficiently upgrade infrastructure for Indy’s neighborhoods. 

About the Lead Service Line Replacement Program, implemented by Citizens Energy Group:

Tens of thousands of Citizens customers own buildings which were connected to the water system prior to 1950 and also own service lines that are made of lead or contain lead. Approved in 2022, the LSLRP is a multi-year program to investigate customer-owned service lines that may contain lead and replace them at no additional cost to the customer.

Citizens Energy Group does not have any active water mains made of lead in our distribution system. Citizens regularly monitors tap water from customers’ homes in accordance with U.S. EPA’s Lead and Copper Rule. No elevated levels of lead have been found through regular monitoring of Citizens’ system. Still, the surest method to avoid lead exposure in drinking water is to fully replace customer-owned infrastructure (service lines) containing lead or lead-based connections. Replacements will be accomplished in several ways: in coordination with capital improvement projects; in proactive focus neighborhood areas; or as initiated by customers for the upgrade or maintenance of their own service line.

Lumina Foundation’s Jamie Merisotis Appointed to Board of Trustees

INDIANAPOLIS – Lumina Foundation President and CEO Jamie Merisotis,
an internationally recognized leader in higher education, human work, philanthropy, and public policy, has been appointed to Citizens Energy Group’s five-member Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees’ exclusive function is to make nominations for vacancies to both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors. 

Merisotis has served as Lumina Foundation’s president and CEO since 2008. Previously, he was president of the nonpartisan, D.C.-based Institute for Higher Education Policy, which he co-founded. He also was executive director of a bipartisan national commission, appointed by the U.S. president and congressional leaders, to study college affordability. 

An experienced board leader, Merisotis serves as trustee and governing board member of The Ditchley Foundation in the UK and on the boards of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and ACT. In addition, Merisotis is past chairman and trustee emeritus of the Council on Foundations and currently leads a task force highlighting philanthropy’s ethical responsibility to the greater good. He also is past chairman and investment committee chair of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Merisotis is a distinguished graduate and trustee emeritus of Bates College in Lewiston, Maine.

Merisotis’s appointment to the Board of Trustees follows the retirement of Daniel F. Evans, Jr., who served on the Board for more than 17 years, including 14 years as its president. 

Citizens President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison said, “Citizens Energy Group is fortunate to have Jamie Merisotis join our Board of Trustees. His wealth of experience leading at the local, national, and global levels is a tremendous asset to the Board. At the same time we welcome Jamie, I want to express my deep gratitude to Daniel F. Evans, Jr. for his many years of valuable and unwavering service to Citizens.” Citizens Energy Group Welcomes New Board Member

Citizens' employees and partners donated volunteer effort and $300,000 in renovations to upgrade the southeast-side park facilities this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend. 

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group and a coalition of partners worked to renovate the community center and the pool house at Stanley Strader Park (formerly Bethel Park) this weekend as part of Citizens’ 16th annual Sharing the Dream project. Sharing the Dream is a multi-day community service project honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which gives Citizens employees a chance to serve Central Indiana neighborhoods. Nearly 250 employee volunteers collectively donated hundreds of hours of their time during the two-day event Thursday and Friday. Citizens and more than 30 partners this year also contributed $300,000, either monetarily or with in-kind donations, to upgrade the facilities’ buildings and equipment. 

On Monday, January 15, Indy Parks reopened the newly updated community center at Stanley Strader Park for an open house giving the public a chance to tour the facility and its improvements. 

Pictures from the weekend's events are at the bottom of this release, and a recap video is linked here.

“This is the 16th time we’ve joined you to celebrate the renovations to a Sharing the Dream public parks project,” Citizens President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison said at Monday’s open house event. “I want to thank our employees and our partners; and I think it’s a testament to our close working relationship with Indy Parks and The Parks Alliance that we get to continue this important work each year.” 

Improvements to the park’s community center included upgrades for a more efficient reception desk and more welcoming lobby area; new furniture and cabinets in the multipurpose room; new ventilation and appliances for the community pantry area; fresh paint and deep cleaning in the restrooms; a reorganized game room and fitness center; a newly painted mural in the gymnasium; and the operational repair of the gym’s rolling bleachers and score boards. Upgrades in the park’s pool house included completely ground and newly epoxied floors; updates to leaky plumbing equipment and bathroom accessories; new shower heads in ADA-compliant accessible showers; new LED lighting fixtures throughout; and new sinks, shelving, countertops and coolers in the concession stand. 

“We thank Citizens Energy Group and their partners for the work to revitalize this beloved Indianapolis city park,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett. “Combined with our ongoing renovation of the football field, the newly renamed Stanley Strader Park is currently receiving a total investment of more than a million dollars in renovations, reflecting the central importance of this public space.” 

About Sharing the Dream: 

Sharing the Dream is an annual service project to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Citizens has donated more than $3.8 million during Sharing the Dream projects over the past 16 years for improvements to various Indy Parks facilities, including Watkins Park Family Center; Frederick Douglass Park Family Center, golf course clubhouse, and pool house; Brookside Park Family Center; Martin Luther King, Jr. Park pool and bathhouse; Pride Park Community Center; Municipal Gardens; Eagle Creek Hide-A-Way; Perry Park’s Ice Arena; Thatcher Park; Krannert Park; Garfield Park; Riverside Park; and—most recently in 2023—Ellenberger Park. 

About This Year’s Partners: 

Citizens Energy Group thanks its many partners for their efforts to make Sharing the Dream a successful event this year, especially The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis, Mitsch Design, Peine Engineering, and Powers & Sons Construction Company. Other partners include: A All Star Garage Doors; AAA Roofing; A.G. Maas; BEC; Chisholm Lumber & Millwork; Clark Truck Equipment Co., Inc.; Connor Fine Painting; CVR; Denney Companies; Ecore International; Energy Plus Credit Union; Eubanks Fencing; Fluid Waste Services; Grainger; Greene’s Auto & Truck Service; Indy Soft Water; MacAllister Machinery & Rentals; McGath Concrete; Mainscape, Inc.; Marsha's Specialty Desserts & Tierney's Catering; MET Construction, LLC; Mitsch Design; Peine Engineering; Powers & Sons Construction Company; Pulse Electric; Refined Restoration; Solace Risk Management; Springfield Electric; SSI Services; Superior Carpet Installers; Tayco Office Furnishings; and Wagner Signs.

OneAmerica’s José Martínez Named to Board of Directors

INDIANAPOLIS – José Martínez, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at OneAmerica, has been named to Citizens Energy Group’s Board of Directors. Selected by Citizens’ Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors has primary oversight of the management team and long-term direction of the company.

Martínez is accountable for all IT, cybersecurity and data planning, program, development, and support functions at OneAmerica. He has more than 25 years of experience in the IT sector and extensive experience in strategic sourcing, vendor management, relationship management, project management, and IT engineering design and support. Prior to his current position, he served at OneAmerica as vice president, IT infrastructure and application support, and vice president, business relationship management and enterprise architecture.

Before joining OneAmerica, Martínez served as vice president, communications as a service (CaaS) for
Interactive Intelligence, managing all data centers worldwide for the company’s cloud product. In
addition, he served as a senior global delivery executive at IBM, accountable for the delivery of a broad range of IT outsourced services for corporate clients.

Martínez holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also completed an advanced management executive program from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Martínez succeeds Sherry D. Davis, whose Board of Directors service recently concluded after three years.  

Citizens President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison said, “Citizens Energy Group is pleased to welcome José Martínez to the Board of Directors. He is a strategic leader whose engineering and IT experience will be incredibly beneficial to the Board. As we welcome José, I also want to thank Sherry D. Davis for her dedicated and conscientious service to Citizens over the past three years.” Citizens Energy Group Welcomes New Board Member

Fitch Ratings has affirmed the 'AA-' rating on the following revenue bonds of the city of Indianapolis, IN (issued on behalf of the Board of Directors for its Department of Public Utilities, dba Citizens Energy Group):

--$104.3 million outstanding gas utility distribution system second lien revenue and refunding bonds, series 2013A and 2017A.

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

INDIANAPOLIS – Mel Raines has joined Citizens Energy Group’s five-member Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees’ exclusive function is to make nominations for vacancies to both the Board of Trustees and the Board of Directors. Nominees for the Board of Trustees are appointed to the Board by the mayor of Indianapolis.

Raines is in her ninth season with Pacers Sports & Entertainment as President and COO and is President of the 2024 NBA All-Star Local Organizing Committee. She has more than 30 years of event operations, legislative, political, corporate, and public affairs experience. Prior to joining Pacers Sports & Entertainment, she was chief of staff to Indiana Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks overseeing three offices as well as all legislative, constituent services, and communications staff. 

From 2009 to 2012, Raines was one of the principal architects of Indianapolis’ highly acclaimed 2012 Super Bowl. Earlier in her career, Raines served as Assistant to Vice President Dick Cheney for Political Affairs. She also held several leadership positions at Altria Corporate Services and at the Republican National Committee, and she began her career on Capitol Hill with U.S. Sen. Daniel Coats of Indiana. 

Raines, a South Bend, Ind., native and graduate of Indiana University – Bloomington, is also on the board of directors of the Pacers Foundation, the Indianapolis Zoo, Visit Indy, the Economic Club of Indiana, and the Indy Championship Fund.

INDIANAPOLIS – Nichole Wilson, DPT, MBA, FACHE, has joined Citizens Energy Group’s nine-member Board of Directors. Selected by the Citizens Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors has primary oversight of the management team and long-term direction of the company. As the newest member of the Board of Directors, Wilson replaces Phillip A. Terry, who recently retired from the board after more than 11 years of service..

Wilson is the vice president of Community Health Operations at IU Health, where she is committed to health equity and has a demonstrated track record of pioneering innovations and
consumer-focused experiences in healthcare settings. She also is a board-certified Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the National Association of Health Services Executives, the Indiana Healthcare Executive Network, and the National Association of Parliamentarians. In addition, Wilson serves as a Corporate Director on the boards for AAA Hoosier Motor Club and Marquette Senior Living (Retirement Living, Incorporated).

During her prior tenure at Community Health Network, Wilson launched on-demand virtual care services, stood up retail medical clinics within Walgreens storefronts, and designed consumer focused innovations including digital scheduling and registration.

Wilson was awarded in 2020 the Regent’s Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives, which recognizes top healthcare executives in Indiana. That same year, Modern Healthcare Magazine honored her as one the Top Minority Healthcare Executives to Watch in the nation as part of their Top 25 Minority Executives award. 

Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in sport medicine from DePauw University, master’s and doctoral degrees in physical therapy from University of Indianapolis, and a Master of Business Administration from Purdue University. She resides in Indianapolis with her husband, Corey, and daughter, Nahla.

Fitch Ratings has upgraded the rating on the following Indianapolis, IN (the city) water system revenue bonds issued on behalf of the city's Board of Directors for Utilities of its Department of Public Utilities, doing business as Citizens Energy Group (Citizens) to 'AA-' from 'A+':

• Approximately $57 million outstanding first-lien water revenue bonds issued by the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank (ILPIBB) series 2007B
• Approximately $98 million outstanding first-lien water revenue bonds issued by the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) series 2014A and 2016A
• Approximately $617 million outstanding first-lien revenue bonds issued by the city series 2016B and series 2018A.

Fitch has updated the issuer for the 2016B bonds to the city of Indianapolis.

The Rating Outlook is Stable

Two More Tunnels Open, Will Prevent Up to 700 Million Gallons of Sewage from Entering Waterways Annually

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group announced today that two more tunnels on its DigIndy Tunnel System have opened. The White River and Lower Pogues Run Tunnels will prevent up to 700 million gallons of sewage from entering waterways annually. A total of four of the system’s six tunnels are now in operation (including the Deep Rock Tunnel Connector and Eagle Creek Tunnel), comprising nearly 17 of the system’s 28 miles.

“Today we celebrate the opening of the White River and Pogues Run Tunnels, which are nearly eliminating sewer overflows into the White River in one of the most densely populated areas of the city stretching from the near north side to the south edge of downtown,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “These tunnels are continuing the progress we have made since December 2017 when we opened the first 10 miles of DigIndy from downtown to the county line. That segment of the tunnel system already has prevented more than 3 billion gallons of sewage from reaching area waterways.”

The White River Tunnel is nearly 6 miles long and includes approximately 9,000 feet of consolidation sewers, which transport sewage from combined sewer overflow (CSO) points to the tunnel. This segment of the tunnel will prevent CSOs along the White River in the Riverside, Haughville, Stringtown, and Old Southside neighborhoods, as well as Downtown Indianapolis.

The Lower Pogues Run Tunnel is nearly 2 miles long and includes 1,200 feet of consolidation sewers. The tunnel, along with other improvements along the Upper and Lower Pogues Run waterways, will significantly reduce CSOs along Pogues Run from the Brookside neighborhood to Downtown.

“We appreciate the support and patience of residents and commuters as we continue our work. With more than half of the DigIndy Tunnel System now operating, we look forward to completing this truly transformational project to enhance quality of life and restore the natural environment here in Indianapolis,” said Harrison.

Click here to take a look at where DigIndy has been, where the project stands now, and how it’s progressing toward the future.

The remaining two tunnels, Pleasant Run and Fall Creek, are expected to open in 2025. When the entire 28-mile DigIndy Tunnel System is complete, it will nearly eliminate CSOs, creating healthier, more vibrant waterways and improving the community. Learn more about the DigIndy Tunnel System at www.DigIndyTunnel.com.

Jackson Brings More Than 20 Years of Financial Expertise to Citizens

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group announced today that Craig Jackson has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Jackson succeeds John Brehm, who retired on March 31 after more than 17 years at Citizens.

“Craig Jackson is an accomplished leader and senior executive with more than 20 years of experience who, through his leadership, strategic planning, and financial expertise, has successfully navigated industry changes and business transformation,” said Jeffrey Harrison, Citizens President & CEO. “Combined with his wealth of knowledge, Craig’s experience will be a valuable asset as Citizens continues to serve our customers and communities with unparalleled excellence and integrity.”

Prior to joining Citizens, Jackson served as Group Chief Financial Officer at MasTec Inc., a multinational infrastructure engineering and construction company. Prior to his role at MasTec, Jackson served in positions of increasing responsibility with Dayton Power & Light Company and AES Corporation. His roles included serving as Chief Financial Officer of AES’s US Strategic Business Unit and President & CEO of AES U.S. Utilities.

A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Jackson is a graduate of Bloomsburg University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. He also has an MBA from Wright State University.

(INDIANAPOLIS) — A commitment to offering affordable and reliable energy service for today and tomorrow coupled with a strong sense of community responsibility have earned Jeffrey Harrison, president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group in Indianapolis, a statewide honor. Harrison is the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year.

“Jeffrey Harrison is an outstanding chief executive. His compassion, intelligence and thoughtfulness are hallmarks of his decision-making for Citizens Energy consumers and employees, as well as for the Greater Indianapolis community efforts he and the company support,” says Indiana Chamber President Kevin Brinegar.

Recognizing the importance of hand washing as a deterrent to spreading COVID-19, Citizens Energy implemented a policy of reconnecting/not turning off the vital water service for nonpayment – before any government moratorium was issued. The company continues to work with those facing financial hardships, extending payment arrangements up to a year.

“If we look at those customers who are struggling, I’ve walked more than my share of a mile in their shoes. … I’ve been on free and reduced lunch – grew up on food stamps and fairly poor. I get firsthand the struggles that take place in some of these households,” Harrison shares.

That memory for Harrison has fueled his pledge that Citizens Energy offer customers “the best value that we can for the utility services that we provide.” He also says he “can’t commend our staff enough” for their efforts.

Citizens Energy delivers water to an eight county Indianapolis area as well as both natural gas and wastewater services to Marion County. That reach covers more than 800,000 people.

Modernizing service systems includes the 28-mile DigIndy tunnel being built some 250 feet beneath the city, which will be a major factor in reducing combined sewer overflows into area waterways once it’s completed in 2025.

Harrison is also enthusiastic about his role as chair for the Business Equity for Indy Initiative and especially about its purpose.

“It’s just been very humbling to see businesses in central Indiana come together to focus on what I talk about a lot as justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We’ve got five primary focus areas: learning and talent, hiring and promotion, participation and procurement, impediments to health and then understanding from the business perspective how we can impact public policy.”

Harrison began his current roles with Citizens Energy in mid-2015 and has been with the utility since 2003.

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group’s new Citizens Reservoir has been named 2020 Project of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (Indiana Section). The award recognizes the most outstanding or unique project built in Indiana and completed during the current or past year.

Citizens Vice President of Water Operations Jeff Willman said, “We are very pleased to receive the Project of the Year Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (Indiana Section). Citizens Reservoir is a transformational project for Central Indiana and will be vital to ensuring adequate water supply for Citizens’ eight-county service area for many years to come.”

Citizens Reservoir is 230 feet deep, has a surface area of 90 acres, and holds approximately 3 billion gallons of water. It is located adjacent to Geist Reservoir along Olio Road. Construction on Citizens Reservoir was completed in late 2020, and it was filled with water from Geist Reservoir in early 2021. During dry periods, up to 30 million gallons per day of stored water can be pumped from Citizens Reservoir into Geist Reservoir and allowed to flow downstream to Citizens’ Fall Creek Water Treatment Plant and White River Water Treatment Plant for processing and distribution throughout Central Indiana.

To learn more about Citizens Reservoir and how it will benefit Central Indiana – and to view videos giving you a front-row seat to this historic project – click here.

Customers Previously Disconnected Asked to Contact Utility Immediately

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group is asking customers whose utility services have been turned off for non-payment to call the utility at **(317) 924-3311 **to have their service reconnected. Citizens will work to reconnect customers as soon as possible.

“Because of the importance of hand washing and hygiene during the COVID-19 emergency, Citizens urges all customers without water and/or natural gas service to call us immediately,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “During this serious public health emergency, Citizens is working to do everything it can to help customers in need.”

Citizens will accept whatever payment customers can make to reconnect their service and will use assistance from various sources to help with the outstanding balances until those funds are depleted. Because of the nature of this crisis, preference for reconnection will be given to water and wastewater customers first, then natural gas customers.

Citizens also is suspending utility disconnections during the COVID-19 public health emergency, in accordance with an executive order issued on March 19 by Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb. The utility had previously announced suspension of all utility disconnections through April 15. Citizens is waiving deposits, late fees and reconnection fees during this period as well.

It may take some time to turn services back on, but Citizens employees will work as safely and quickly as possible. For the safety of our customers and employees, Citizens asks that customers not approach our employees while they are performing this work. We request that customers follow social distancing recommendations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that call for maintaining a 6-foot distance between people.

Citizens urges customers to utilize the various self-service functions available on its website at www.CitizensEnergyGroup.com, given the expected increase in call volume to its Contact Center. Citizens also encourages anyone who would like to help provide financial assistance to customers in need to donate via Warm Heart Warm Home.

“We appreciate the patience of our customers as we process these reconnect orders. Citizens stands ready to continue providing safe, reliable utility service to the community as it endures the hardships of the COVID-19 emergency,” said Harrison.

About Citizens Energy Group

Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 800,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities only for the benefit of customers and the community.

Media Contact Information

Dan Considine
(C) 317-519-1515
media@citizensenergygroup.com

Service Interruptions Due to COVID-19 Not Expected

INDIANAPOLIS – Citizens Energy Group is well prepared to ensure its vital utility services are not interrupted during the COVID-19 emergency.

Water from Citizens continues to be safe for our customers. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 has not been detected in drinking water. Conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, such as those used at Citizens, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

Citizens operates multiple water and wastewater treatment facilities serving Indianapolis and the surrounding area. These facilities continuously meet or exceed U.S. EPA requirements and are well equipped to continue providing safe, reliable service to customers.

As always, Citizens urges customers to call (317) 924-3311 if they suspect a natural gas leak at their home or business. Citizens personnel are prepared to immediately come on site to inspect for a leak and will follow special procedures during their visit to ensure the health and safety of customers.

Citizens has suspended utility service disconnections until April 15. All customers are urged to do their best to stay current on their utility bills. Customers who need assistance should call Citizens at (317) 924-3311. Representatives will work with individual customers to determine whether they qualify for assistance and/or set up flexible payment arrangements.

For answers to frequently asked questions and for updates as they arise, visit www.citizensenergygroup.com/COVID-19.   

About Citizens Energy Group

Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 800,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities only for the benefit of customers and the community.

Media Contact Information

Dan Considine
(C) 317-519-1515
media@citizensenergygroup.com

Fitch Ratings assigns an 'A+' rating to the following Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) bonds issued on behalf of CWA Authority, IN (CWA):

--Approximately $40.5 million first lien wastewater utility revenue bonds, series 2019A (CWA Authority Project) (Green Bonds).

The 2019A bonds are being sold to fund various CWA wastewater system (the system) capital improvements, repay draws under a line of credit, fund a debt service reserve surety policy and pay costs of issuance. The bonds are expected to sell via negotiation the week of Sept. 23, 2019.

Fitch also upgrades to 'A+' from 'A' the rating on the following outstanding IFA bonds issued on behalf of CWA:

--$559.8 million in outstanding first lien wastewater utility revenue bonds, series 2014A 2015A and 2016A (CWA Authority Project);
--$41.9 million in outstanding second lien wastewater utility refunding revenue bonds, series 2016B (CWA Authority Project).

The Rating Outlook is Stable.

Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has assigned a Aa3 rating to the
CWA Authority, Inc.'s $40.5 million First Lien Wastewater Utility Revenue Bonds, Series 2019A (CWA Authority
Project) (Green Bonds). Concurrently, Moody's upgraded CWA's outstanding senior lien and subordinate lien
revenue bond ratings to Aa3 and A1, from A1 and A2, respectively. After the 2019A issuance, CWA Authority,
Inc. will have approximately $1.8 billion of debt outstanding. The outlook is stable.

RATINGS RATIONALE
CWA Authority, Inc.'s (CWA) senior lien upgrade to Aa3 from A1 reflects the utility's successful implementation
of rate increases to recover costs, pay debt service, and maintain a sound financial position until the federally
mandated consent decree is substantially completed in 2025. The Aa3 rating also contemplates the consent
decree capital plan, which is several months ahead of schedule and roughly $400 million under budget. CWA
is managed by Citizens Energy Group (Citizens) through a charitable trust structure, and serves Indianapolis -
Marion County, IN (Aaa stable). Rates are regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC),
which is unusual for municipal utilities. Despite CWA's rate regulated status, the utility has been able to secure
approval for rate increases cumulatively amounting to just shy of 75% since 2014, demonstrating the IURC's
credit supportive actions concerning CWA's rate increase requests. The wastewater bond indenture is closed
loop, is isolated from any of Citizens' non-core business operations, and the bonds are secured by a fully
funded debt service reserve.

CWA's subordinate lien upgrade to A1 from A2 reflects the same dynamics that led to the senior lien upgrade,
however subordinate lien debt service payments are made after senior lien payments in the flow of funds and
the subordinate lien has a lower rate covenant.

RATING OUTLOOK
The outlook is stable given our expectation for steady debt service coverage levels around 1.5x, no need for
significant rate increase requests to complete the consent decree capital plan and for the consent decree
capital plan to remain ahead of schedule and below budget.

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE
- Once the consent decree capital plan is completed
- Debt service coverage ratio consistently above 1.75x

FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO A DOWNGRADE
- Debt service coverage ratio consistently below 1.25x
- Major construction delays associated with the consent decree capital plan

LEGAL SECURITY
The wastewater bonds are secured by the net revenues of the wastewater system. The indenture provides for
a 1.20x on all First Lien Debt Service Requirement (with adjustments for rate stabilization transfers) or 1.0x on
all required First Lien deposits. The indenture provides for a 1.10x on Second Lien Debt Service Requirements
(with adjustments for rate stabilization) or 1.0x on all required Second Lien deposits. The debt service reserve
consists of the lesser of 10% of par amount of bonds, maximum annual debt service, or 125% of average
annual debt service.

USE OF PROCEEDS
Finance the costs of improvements and additions to the wastewater system and fund a debt service reserve
for the CWA Authority, Inc. 2019A bonds.

PROFILE
Citizens Energy Group (Citizens) is the trade name of the Department of Public Utilities of the City of
Indianapolis, Indiana (Department). The Department was formed in 1929 to provide the governance structure
for the City of Indianapolis to act as a successor trustee of a public charitable trust (Energy Trust) providing
natural gas utility services in the City of Indianapolis and to own and operate other utility systems serving areas
within and outside the City of Indianapolis.

Citizens operates: the Gas Utility & Distribution System, the Thermal Energy System, the Water System and
CWA. Each system has issued debt independently secured by pledged revenues of each system to a separate
dedicated trust. These separate trusts are designed to insulate one trust from liability for obligations for
another trust, so they do not become jointly liable solely because the same entity is the trust of both. Each
indenture permits Citizens or CWA, as applicable, authority to use residual revenues for other purposes
permitted by the language of the respective indenture. Citizens' water indenture and CWA's wastewater
indentures, however, permit only the use of the excess revenues for the water and wastewater systems,
respectively.

The wastewater system is owned by CWA, a separate nonprofit corporation, which, through an inter-local
agreement entered into between Citizens and the City of Indianapolis, has the power to exercise all rights and
powers of the City, except the City's taxing power, and Citizens in connection with the provision of wastewater
utility services. The Wastewater System is managed by employees of Citizens under an operating agreement
between Citizens and CWA.

METHODOLOGY
The principal methodology used in these ratings was US Municipal Utility Revenue Debt published in October
2017. Please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.

REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of debt or security this announcement provides certain
regulatory disclosures in relation to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series,
category/class of debt, security or pursuant to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from
existing ratings in accordance with Moody's rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider, this
announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation to the credit rating action on the support
provider and in relation to each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from
the support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory
disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive rating that may be
assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction structure and terms
have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would have affected the
rating. For further information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on
www.moodys.com.

Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit rating and, if applicable, the related
rating outlook or rating review.

Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal
entity that has issued the rating.

Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com for additional regulatory disclosures
for each credit rating.

Thomas Brigandi
Lead Analyst
Project Finance
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
7 World Trade Center
250 Greenwich Street
New York 10007
US
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376

Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Kurt Krummenacker
Additional Contact
Project Finance
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A
JOURNALISTS: 1 212 553 0376
Client Service: 1 212 553 1653

Citizens Energy Group delivered a record amount of natural gas to its customers during the extraordinarily cold weather from Tuesday through Thursday this week. On Thursday, the utility established a new one-day record for gas deliveries, eclipsing the previous single-day record set on January 1, 2018.

“Citizens met the needs of its customers during this record cold snap thanks to careful supply planning and the daily dedication of our employees,” said Jeffrey Harrison, Citizens Energy Group President & CEO.

Multiple suppliers and Citizens’ extensive natural gas storage capacity help ensure the utility has the natural gas its customers need during periods of peak demand. In addition, more than $650 million of system investments made over the past 30 years have made Citizens’ natural gas system one of the safest and most reliable urban gas utilities in the nation. The safety and integrity of the Citizens natural gas system is confirmed by an ongoing study by the Environmental Defense Fund and Google Maps, which found minimal leaks on the Indianapolis system compared to other cities across the U.S. The study can be found here.

Although the increased consumption from the cold snap may impact customers’ bill, the average annual residential gas bill in Indianapolis has declined more than 40 percent since 2009, or about $500.

“Citizens has been able to enter into long-term supply contracts that have helped us leverage falling natural gas prices to deliver significant savings to our customers,” said Harrison.

In addition to meeting the demands of customers as a primary heat source, Citizens is also meeting increasing demands for natural gas from Indianapolis Power & Light, which recently converted its second-largest electric generation plant, Harding Generating Station, from coal to natural gas.

Citizens Energy Group announced today it has completed mining more than half of the 28-mile DigIndy Tunnel System, which is now ahead of schedule and approximately $400 million below the original budget.

When complete in 2025, DigIndy will prevent up to 99 percent of sewer overflows now impacting area waterways when it rains as little as a quarter of an inch. Since opening the first 10 miles of the system on Dec. 29, 2017, DigIndy has prevented more than 500 million gallons of sewage from overflowing into the White River and Eagle Creek across southern Marion County.

“Citizens employees are working hard every day to find innovative ways to keep the DigIndy Project ahead of schedule and below budget, while maximizing benefits for our environment,” said Jeffrey Harrison, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “DigIndy is now functioning just as it was designed. Keeping 500 million gallons of sewage out of area waterways over the past nine months is a tremendous accomplishment resulting from years of careful planning.”

Mayor Joe Hogsett commented that DigIndy is a “transformational project for Indianapolis. As DigIndy restores area waterways to their original splendor, it is enhancing recreational opportunities, while sparking economic and neighborhood redevelopment across our community.”

Harrison thanked the community for its understanding and patience as it completes the largest infrastructure project in Indianapolis history. “We recognize the impact the cost of DigIndy is having on customer rates and that’s why we are more focused than ever on leveraging innovation to hold down project and operating costs. We also appreciate the community’s patience as we complete disruptive surface projects associated with the tunnel system,” Harrison said.

The Indianapolis Department of Public of Works and IndyGo are working closely with Citizens to coordinate project schedules such as bridge replacements and the Red Line construction to minimize inconvenience for residents and motorists.

In addition to building the tunnel system 250 feet beneath the city, Citizens is constructing new consolidated sewers and drop shafts that will convey sewer overflows to the tunnel. Over the next seven years, residents will notice large cranes in areas of the city where drop shafts are being constructed. The utility has already more than doubled the capacity of its two advanced wastewater treatment plants to process volumes captured by the tunnel system.

To learn more about how the DigIndy Tunnel System will improve our community, visit www.DigIndyTunnel.com. For construction updates, follow us on Twitter: @DigIndy.