The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) says all residential and business consumers throughout Indiana’s 812 area code should be prepared for changes that are coming this year in preparation for the addition of the 930 area code.
Beginning Feb. 7, 2015, all local calls made within the 812 area must be placed using the 10-digit telephone number (area code + the 7-digit telephone number). Calls that are currently local will continue to be local, even though 10-digit dialing will be required. Consumers throughout 812 have had the option of using either 7 or 10 digits to complete local calls since Mar. 1, 2014, to allow ample time to adjust to the changes.
To ensure a continuing supply of telephone numbers, the new 930 area code will be added this year to the 812 region which generally covers the southern third of Indiana including Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, New Albany, and Terre Haute. The new 930 area code will be “overlaid” or superimposed over the same geographical area as 812.
The IURC ordered an area code overlay for the 812 region in July 2013, following a year-long case that included a seven-month public comment period and ten public field hearings throughout southern, south-central, and western Indiana. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) filed testimony supporting the overlay method because it is the least disruptive option available.
An overlay is the addition of a new area code to the same geographic region as a pre-existing area code. In this case, the 930 area code is being added to the area currently served by 812. An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code.
Beginning Mar. 7, 2015, new telephone lines or services may be assigned numbers using the new 930 area code.
