Waukesha utility to seek PSC approval for water-rate increase; commission approves series of contracts and insurance renewals

Waukesha — The Waukesha Water Utility Commission voted June 19 to submit an application to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) seeking a conventional increase in water rates under PSC docket 6240-WR-111 and approved several routine contracts and policy renewals.

The rate filing was described by utility staff as a follow-up to a two-step increase approved by the PSC in 2023 and 2024 tied to the Great Water Alliance project. Utility staff said they will request a short extension of the PSC filing deadline (from the current August 15 date) to October 1 to allow time to compile actual operating costs and updated abandonment cost estimates for facilities the city expects to decommission as part of the Great Water Alliance work.

Commissioners and staff said the utility is estimating roughly a 13% increase to the water portion of bills for the proposed filing, but noted that the water portion represents only part of customers’ total bills. Utility staff said the projected increase would translate to about a 6.6% increase on the combined water, return-flow and sewer bill. Courtney, utility staff, told the commission: “we are estimating a rate increase of about 13%.”

Why it matters: The PSC regulates water rates for utilities in Wisconsin. Staff said the new filing will rely on roughly 18 months of actual costs since the earlier rate case, updated amortization entries for costs tied to a now-abandoned Oak Creek option, and better estimates of abandonment costs for…