The Village of Pleasant Prairie Water Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase water rates. The increase is necessary due to changes in Pleasant Prairie’s customer base, including a loss of one of the Village’s largest water user, WE-Energies Pleasant Prairie Power Plant, since the last water rate case in 2012.
The total increase in water revenues requested is $1,169,223. If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer who use 5,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $32.13 to $34.50 (or 7%), a difference of $2.37. A telephonic public hearing on the application with PSCW has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 10, at 3:00 p.m. in the Village Hall Auditorium (9915 39th Avenue). Scheduling questions regarding this hearing may be directed to the PSCW at 608-266-3766.
The sewer rate decrease will offset the water rate increase for the majority of utility customers. Business growth in Pleasant Prairie caused a large volume increase of low strength sewer discharge. Village sewer is treated by the Kenosha Water Utility, which meters flow and strength. Pleasant Prairie’s sewer flow has been diluted by new customers, giving the ability to decrease sewer rates for all Village customers. The sewer bill for an average residential customer who use 5,000 gallons of water per month will decrease from $42.06 to $36.55 (or -14%), a difference of $5.51. The sewer rate decrease recommendation will be brought to the Village Board on September 16 for approval.
When you combine the water rate increase with the sewer decrease, utility bills for most of Pleasant Prairie utility customers will be about the same. The residential customer using 5,000 gallons of water per month total bill will decrease by $3.14 from $74.19 to $71.05.
Village staff will continue to work to keep the Pleasant Prairie Utilities operating as efficiently as possible in order to help control costs for utility customers. Customers of the Pleasant Prairie Utilities can expect to first see the rate change as early as their October 31 utility billing.
Audio recording of the PSCW September 10, 2019, meeting
here.
Please watch this video to learn more about what is included in your utility bill.