EVANSVILLE — With a break from the oppressive heat projected in next week's forecast, a local bar is planning a blackout event in response to high CenterPoint Energy bills in the city.
Arcademie, a Downtown Evansville arcade bar, will turn off its lights, games and gas for the kitchen on Aug. 27.
"We’re shutting everything off that won’t spoil the food, warm the beverages, or risk your health," the bar posted to Facebook. "It’s as battery operated an evening as we can make it. And we’d love to (sort of) see you."
The sun will set before 7:30 p.m. that evening.
The event comes as many CenterPoint customers are struggling to pay more expensive bills.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission released its annual electric residential bill survey earlier this month. It found that, for bills issued as of July 1, Evansville-area residents using 1,000 kilowatt hours a month saw their bills jump 24.87% compared to 2024 – part of a controversial, multi-tiered rate hike the IURC approved last year despite vehement opposition from both ratepayers and local elected officials.
Arcademie also pledged to cut their rates by the same percentage CenterPoint has raised theirs, calling it a "utility-based happy hour."
"Rather than dwell on the costs, let’s focus on solutions. We’re working to bring a few people in to talk about the bills, explain the charges, and see how we can move forward in bringing costs down," the post states. "Not 'turn the lights off when you leave the room' down, but how we change the way utilities operate in Indiana. Lofty for a night out, but it's time."
The bar will set out board games and LED lights, and patrons are encouraged to bring in their CenterPoint bills. The staircase leading upstairs will serve as a spot to chart them, with the highest bill winnning a prize.
"You’ve had enough. We’ve had enough," the post states. "Find others that have too."
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Arcademie Evansville to hold blackout event
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