INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – An Indiana House committee has approved a bill that would allow certain industrial companies to leave Indiana's 2-year-old energy-efficiency program. 

The House Utilities and Energy Committee passed the bill on a 10-2 vote Wednesday. The measure sponsored by Republican state Sen. Jim Merritt of Indianapolis passed the Indiana Senate on Feb. 3, and now heads to the full House for consideration.

The bill would allow industrial companies that use one megawatt or more of electricity to pull out of the Energizing Indiana program that's financed through a fee on monthly electricity bills. 

Manufacturers and industry groups testified in favor of the legislation. But representatives of environmental and citizens groups told the panel the bill would gut the Energizing Indiana program that's helped homeowners and businesses cut their energy use.