Public Notice To All Customers Of The
Middleton Municipal Water Utility
The Middleton Municipal Water Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase water rates. The increase will keep the Water Utility debt-free and financed on a pay-as-you-go basis. The proposed increase is necessary due to a 15 percent increase in gross plant investment, including the Utility’s share of construction costs of the new Municipal Operations Center, and a 21 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case in 2011. The proposed rate increase also includes a minor funding increase for water conservation rebates for utility customers.
The increase in operating expenses is due in large part to the need to replace deteriorated infrastructure which will decrease ongoing maintenance costs and will decrease water loss due to leakage. The City has placed a greater emphasis on road repairs, and water pipe replacements are typically done concurrent with road projects.
The total increase in water revenues requested is $456,205 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 22% over the Water Utility’s present revenues. If the request is granted, the quarterly water bill for an average residential customer with a ?-inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 14,000 gallons of water will increase by 31% from $37.31 to $48.92. This increase equates to 13 cents per day. For a smaller volume residential customer who uses 6,000 gallons of water per quarter, the water bill will increase by 25% from $22.99 to $28.68. This increase equates to 6 cents per day.
A telephonic public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at 1:00 p.m. in the Middleton City Council Chambers, 7426 Hubbard Avenue, Middleton, Wisconsin. Scheduling questions regarding this hearing may be directed to the PSCW at (608) 266-1282.
A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney representation. A person may submit this testimony in one of the following ways:
• Web Comment. Go to the PSCW’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click on the “Public Comments” button on the side menu bar. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 3640-WR-104. Web comments shall be received no later than the day before the hearing.
• Oral Comment. Spoken testimony at the public hearing session.
• Written Comment. Instead of speaking at the hearing, write out a comment and submit it at the public hearing session.
• Mail Comment. All comments submitted by U.S. mail shall be received no later than the day before the hearing. A mail comment shall include the phrase “Docket 3640-WR-104 Comments” in the heading, and shall be addressed to:
Attn: Denise Schmidt - Docket 3640-WR-104 Comments
Public Service Commission
P.O. Box 7854
Madison WI 53707-7854.
The PSCW intends to webcast this hearing live on the PSCW’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov under the “PSC Live Broadcast” button.
All documents in this docket are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Regulatory Filing (ERF) system. To view these documents: (1) go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, (2) enter “3640-WR-104” in the box labeled “Link Directly to a Case,” and (3) select “GO.”
If you have any questions, please contact Dave Sarbacker, Utility Director / Middleton Municipal Water Utility at (608) 821-8370.
Publish: 4/23/15