Andy Zay, then the chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, leads a daylong utility affordability hearing on March 24, 2026, at the IURC’s downtown Indianapolis headquarters. Mike Braun fired Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Andy Zay from his post on Monday, Aug. 3, just six weeks after Zay voted in favor of an AES Indiana rate hike and was demoted from IURC chair. The firing is the latest shakeup to a typically quiet panel of regulators, and could impact a critical vote to reconsider the AES Indiana increase. Braun first appointed Zay to the IURC – and named him chair – in December as part of the governor’s affordability push. The amount was less than the $193 million hike AES Indiana originally sought, and below the $91 million proposed in a settlement agreement.