PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS OF THE CLEVELAND WATER UTILITY
The Cleveland Water Utility has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) to increase water rates. The increase is necessary due to a 74.17 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 59.01 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 2017. The needs addressed by the utility include:
– Water meter endpoints are being upgraded to a cellular-based service. The vendor ended support for the old meter endpoints, making the upgrade necessary.
– The logic systems for the water and sewer utilities were original equipment and had to be replaced due to age as manufacturers were no longer providing parts and support. The utilities installed a SCADA system that allows communication between multiple sites, including the water tower and both wells. Now the utilities can respond to emergency pages, address issues with function, monitor performance, and make operational changes remotely. Costs for the system are shared with the sewer utility.
– Much of the water main in the Village is ±60 years old. The utility therefore replaced water main and other utility infrastructure as part of the street reconstruction projects completed in 2020, 2022, and 2023. This reduces the risk of main failure and minimizes opening streets for repairs, extending the life of our streets. The water utility is only paying project costs related to water utility infrastructure.
– The utility will fill a multi-year vacancy in a full-time public works/utility operator position due to Manitowoc Public Utilities ending an emergency services agreement; and a full-time office position in response to recommendations from utility customers for service improvements. Both positions will perform additional duties that cannot be completed at current staffing levels. Costs for both positions are shared with the village and sewer utility.
The total increase in water revenues requested is $228,245 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 65.96 percent over the water utility’s present revenues. If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer with a ⅝-inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 3,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $37.54 to $62.92, or 67.62 percent, including the public fire protection charge.
A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. This hearing has no physical location. Parties and Commission staff appear by Zoom. Parties and Commission staff may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no practicable internet connection exists. Members of the public attend by Zoom or by audio-only telephone connection.
Join Zoom over the internet at: https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
To join Zoom telephone:
1. Dial: +1 312 626 6799
2. Enter: 809 513 2930 # (Meeting ID)
The Commission intends to livestream and record this hearing on YouTube. To access the livestream, go to the Commission’s website at http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu labeled “News & Events”, and select item labeled “Broadcasts”.
A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney representation. A person may submit this testimony in only one of the following ways:
• Web Comment. File a comment on the internet. Go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu labeled “Commission Action”. Select the item labeled “File a Public Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 1180-WR-106. Web comments shall be received no later than Friday, December 1, 2023.
• Live Comment. Make a live comment at the hearing. The ALJ (Administrative Law Judge) may receive live comments from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party and Commission staff testimony. The ALJ will receive such comments by stating the name of each member of the public connected to the hearing one at a time and asking if they would like to comment.
• Mail Comment. Send a comment by U.S. Mail. All comments submitted by U.S. Mail shall be received no later than Friday, December 1, 2023 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 1180-WR-106 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.
To access the documents, schedule, and other information about this docket, go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, select the dropdown menu labeled ‘eServices”. Select the item labeled “Docket Search (CMS)”. On the next page enter 1180-WR-106 in the spaces labeled “Case #” and select “Search”.
If you have any questions, please contact the Cleveland Water Utility at (920) 693-8181.
PDF of this notice: Customer Notice
More information on the Utilities page.