ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Illinois American Water is proposing a rate hike, sparking a debate between the Citizen’s Utility Board and the water utility company.
The company filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise its rates on Thursday, Feb. 8. They said the average residential wastewater bill would go up by about $5 per month, with the average customer seeing a $24 increase in residential monthly water service bills.
The company explained that the rate hike is in response to $557 million in water and wastewater investments made through 2025, which will replace aging infrastructure and improve water quality. They released the following statement in regards to the proposal:
We carefully plan and invest in the infrastructure of our water and wastewater systems to provide safe, clean, and reliable service to nearly 1.3 million Illinoisians in more than 140 communities across the state. By making prudent, ongoing investments, Illinois American Water is committed to protecting public health and safety in the communities we serve. At the same time, we remain committed to addressing the needs of our most vulnerable customers.
Rebecca Losli, Illinois American Water President