Indiana's utility consumer advocate is recommending that regulators establish a new telephone area code that would overlap the existing 812 code that covers roughly the southern third of the state.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor said Thursday that similar overlay area codes are either used or being implemented in 24 states.
Officials have begun accepting public comment on a request to create a new telephone area code for southern and south-central Indiana.
Anthony Swinger with the state Office of Utility Consumer Counselor says it’s projected that the 812 area code will run out of numbers in 2015.
"Back in the 1940s and 1950s, Indiana was divided up into three area codes, and 812 is the last of the three original area codes that needs long term relief," Swinger said.
