Citizens Energy Group

What Citizens Energy Group does

Citizens Energy Group is a municipally chartered public charitable trust operated by the City of Indianapolis through its Department of Public Utilities. Founded in 1887 and employing 1,001-5,000 people, the company delivers four regulated utility services — water, natural gas, wastewater, and thermal/steam — to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the Indianapolis metropolitan area, including Marion County, Westfield, Morgan County, and South Madison. Citizens Thermal operates as a wholly owned subsidiary providing steam to downtown Indianapolis, and Citizens Westfield serves the natural gas distribution franchise in Westfield. Rates across all services are regulated and approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

The company's core infrastructure includes the multi-component DigIndy Tunnel System (Fall Creek, White River, Lower Pogues Run, Pleasant Run, Deep Rock Tunnel Connector, and Eagle Creek tunnels) with associated pump stations and advanced wastewater treatment at the Southport and Belmont plants, plus Citizens Reservoir and company-owned water treatment facilities. Since acquiring the water system in 2011, Citizens has invested over $300 million in water-system improvements to address decades of prior underinvestment that had resulted in roughly 700 water main breaks annually. Over the past 30 years, more than $500 million has been invested in natural gas system upgrades. The company also operates compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations supporting municipal and commercial fleet conversions.

Citizens generates revenue through regulated subscription/recurring monthly billing across its four utility lines. Distribution is direct via company-owned infrastructure (pipes, mains, meters) to customer premises, supplemented by phone customer service, an online My Account portal, a dedicated Citizens Energy Link commercial/industrial portal, and a network of authorized payment locations including CVS, Family Dollar, Kroger, and PayNearMe agents. The most significant growth initiative is the Citizens-Lebanon Water Supply Program — a $550-700 million (Citizens' portion of a $1B+ total) partnership with Lebanon Utilities to supply up to 25 million gallons of water per day to the LEAP Research and Innovation District in Boone County by 2031, with Eli Lilly and Meta's planned data center as anchor commercial customers. The company is structured as a non-profit public trust and is not publicly traded or PE-backed.

Name

Citizens Energy Group

Legal name

Board of Directors for Utilities of the Department of Public Utilities of the City of Indianapolis, as successor trustee of a public charitable trust, and to the extent any aspect of the Services relates to the Wastewater System, as trustee in furtherance of the public charitable trust for the Wastewater System, doing business as Citizens Energy Group

Website

https://citizensenergygroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1887

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Multi-Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Natural Gas Distribution (221210), Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply (221330), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Natural Gas Transmisison & Distribution (4923), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Raw Water Conveyance & Transmission (Aqueducts, Mains, Pumping Stations) (EUANAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal / Public Gas Distribution Systems (TLAGADAB), District Energy & Community CHP (District Heating/Cooling Networks) (EUACAKAH), Water Systems & Treatment (Pumps/Boilers/Water Heaters/Filtration) (IMAIABAK)

Keywords

• Water utility services
• Natural gas distribution
• Wastewater treatment
• Thermal energy services
• Municipal utility provider

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Water Service: Residential, commercial, and industrial water distribution services. Rates regulated by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Includes water supply, treatment, and distribution infrastructure.
2. Natural Gas Distribution: Natural gas delivery services in Indianapolis areas regulated by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Includes Citizens Energy Select program allowing third-party supplier access.
3. Wastewater Services: Sanitary sewer services including collection, treatment, and the DigIndy Tunnel System for combined sewer overflow management.
4. Thermal/Steam Services: Citizens Thermal division provides steam to downtown Indianapolis customers. Rates approved by Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
5. LEAP District Water Supply Program: Wholesale water supply to Lebanon Utilities for LEAP Research and Innovation District - up to 25 million gallons per day by 2031, estimated $550-700 million program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Citizens Energy Group delivers regulated water supply and distribution, natural gas delivery, wastewater collection and treatment, and thermal/steam services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the Indianapolis metro area. Services include the DigIndy Tunnel System for combined sewer overflow management, a CNG vehicle fueling network, conservation programs, and assistance programs for customers, all under rates approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.

Product overview

Citizens Energy Group is a locally owned public utility providing integrated infrastructure services to the Indianapolis metropolitan area through a multi-utility platform. The core offerings include Water Services, Natural Gas Services, Wastewater Services, and Citizens Thermal (steam). The company operates the DigIndy Tunnel System for wastewater management and the Citizens-Lebanon Water Supply Program for regional water distribution. Supporting products include Citizens Energy Select (third-party gas supplier program), UtilityShield (service protection plans), Warm Heart Warm Home (assistance), Be WaterWise and H2O to Go (conservation programs), Natural Gas Vehicle infrastructure (CNG stations), and the PERL university partnership initiative. The My Account online portal provides customer self-service for billing, payments, and service management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Citizens Thermal: A division of Citizens Energy Group that provides steam to customers in downtown Indianapolis
• Warm Heart Warm Home
• H2O to Go
• UtilityShield
• Citizens Energy Select

Products and services

• Water Services Provides water supply, treatment, and distribution services to residential and commercial customers in the Indianapolis area, including water quality testing, reservoir management, and drought monitoring.
• Natural Gas Services Delivers natural gas to customers in Marion County, with services including gas delivery, meter reading, pipeline safety, and third-party supplier options through the Citizens Energy Select program.
• Wastewater Services Provides wastewater collection and treatment, including the DigIndy Tunnel System for combined sewer overflow reduction, industrial pretreatment programs, and stormwater management.
• Citizens Thermal (Steam Services) A wholly-owned division providing steam services to downtown Indianapolis customers, with rates approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
• CNG Fueling Services Compressed natural gas fueling infrastructure and fleet solutions for commercial and municipal fleet operators in Central Indiana, including public CNG stations and private station development.
• UtilityShield Protection Plan Protection plan program for residential and business customers covering utility service issues.
• Warm Heart Warm Home Assistance Program Community assistance program helping customers with utility bill payments and energy assistance.
• Be WaterWise Conservation Program Water conservation program offering tips, drought alerts, and guidance on efficient water usage for residential and commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 700 water main breaks per year managed and repaired
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lebanon UtilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Citizens Energy and Lebanon Utilities partnership for the Citizens-Lebanon Water Supply Program. This $550-700 million program (total project $1B+) will supply up to 25 million gallons of water per day from Indianapolis sources to Boone County's LEAP Research and Innovation District by 2031. Citizens will expand two water treatment plants and Lebanon Utilities will receive wholesale water supply.
• University of IndianapoliscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPERL (Partnership for Excellence in Research and Learning) partnership. Students and faculty of the R.B. Annis School of Engineering developed the H2O to Go mobile water source program. In 2018, a team of students worked with Citizens cross-functional team to create H2O to Go, which provided water access to nearly 5,000 Hoosiers in its first month.
• Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPERL partnership for multiple projects including: Predictive Maintenance Capstone Project, East Bank Storage Tank Tour, Intermediate Water Demand Forecasting, Presentations for CEMT Students, Algal Toxicology Project Support at CEES, Supply Chain Job Shadowing, Evaluating Residuals for Potential Reuse, Polymer Measurement at TW Moses Water Treatment Plant, Geist Quarry Reservoir Power Study, Geist Hydroelectric Power, Solar Farm Tour.
• Purdue UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPERL partnership including Experience Purdue program, Southport Dissolved Oxygen Senior Design, ASCE Geo-Institute Tunnel Tour, Geist Reservoir Senior Project, UV Disinfection System Grant Proposal, Juniors Exploring Engineering Program, Solar Farm Tour, Water Career Panel, Westfield Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Liquid Polymer Conversion Evaluation, Landscape Irrigation Research.
• Ball State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPERL partnership hosting visiting practitioners from Citizens Energy Group.
• Monarch BeveragecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndiana's largest beer and wine distributor converting 85% of commercial truck fleet from diesel to CNG. $16.5 million conversion cost includes new CNG fueling station constructed at Monarch's distribution center in Lawrence. Major CNG fleet customer.
• Johnson Melloh SolutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign-build construction company and co-developer of IND Solar Farm at Indianapolis International Airport - the largest airport solar farm in North America covering 75 acres with 41,000 solar panels. Also operates fleet of light-duty CNG vehicles.
• Northville NG FuelscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDevelops CNG fueling infrastructure for public and private fleet operators. Partnered with Petroleum Marketing Group of Woodbridge, Virginia to open public CNG station at Indianapolis Airport Travel Plaza with six fueling islands, one dedicated to CNG pumps.
• City of IndianapoliscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity fleet transition to natural gas under Mayor Ballard's aggressive plan. Supports city's heavy fleet conversion to CNG as a lower-cost alternative to diesel with environmental benefits.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• WSSC Water: Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission is a bi-county municipal water and wastewater authority serving a major U.S. metro (Montgomery and Prince George's counties, MD). Like Citizens, it operates as a regulated, multi-jurisdictional public utility with monopoly franchise and significant capital programs.
• DC Water: DC Water and Sewer Authority is the municipal water/wastewater utility for the District of Columbia, operating large-scale conveyance (including the Anacostia Tunnel) and treatment infrastructure. Comparable to Citizens in being a publicly chartered water/wastewater monopoly with major tunnel-system capex programs.

Regional players

• Louisville Water Company: Louisville Water Company is one of the oldest municipal water utilities in the U.S., serving Louisville Metro and parts of surrounding counties in Kentucky. Regionally and structurally comparable to Citizens' water operations, with similar customer base and regulated rate structure.
• Greater Cincinnati Water Works: Greater Cincinnati Water Works is the municipal water utility serving Cincinnati and surrounding Hamilton County, Ohio. Comparable to Citizens' water division in scale, regulatory environment, and Midwestern municipal-utility operating model.

Broad incumbents

• CenterPoint Energy (Indiana / former Vectren): CenterPoint Energy, which absorbed Vectren's Indiana gas operations, is a large investor-owned natural gas and electric utility with a meaningful Indiana footprint. Comparable to Citizens' natural gas distribution business as a regulated gas LDC serving overlapping Indiana geographies.
• NiSource (NIPSCO): NiSource is a Fortune 500 utility holding company whose Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) subsidiary provides natural gas and electric service across Indiana. Comparable to Citizens' regulated utility profile, though operates as an investor-owned entity rather than a public trust.
• American Water Works: American Water Works is the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the U.S., serving over 14 million people across 14 states. Comparable to Citizens in regulated water/wastewater operations and scale of capital programs, though investor-owned rather than a charitable trust.
• Essential Utilities (formerly Aqua America): Essential Utilities is a multi-state regulated water, wastewater, and natural gas utility serving over 5 million people across 10 states. Comparable to Citizens' combined water-and-gas utility profile and regulated rate-base growth model.
• AES Indiana (formerly Indianapolis Power & Light): AES Indiana (formerly IPL) is the investor-owned electric utility serving Indianapolis, owned by The AES Corporation. Comparable to Citizens as the other major regulated utility franchise serving the Indianapolis metro, with overlapping geographic and customer base.

Emerging players

• Veolia North America: Veolia North America operates water and wastewater treatment infrastructure under municipal contracts across the U.S. Comparable to Citizens' DigIndy tunnel and advanced treatment operations as a scaled operator of municipal water/wastewater assets, though structured as a private concession/operations partner rather than an asset owner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/citizensenergy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CitizensEnergyGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/CitizensEnergyGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citizens-energy-group
• Instagraminstagram.com/citizensenergygroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Citizens Energy Group