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Public Works committee recommends 3% water rate increase to finance and counsel
Summary
Acting as the water utility board, the Public Works Committee recommended that finance and common counsel adopt a 3% water rate increase effective in the first quarter billing cycle of 2026; the recommendation follows a Public Service Commission simplified rate case and will require public notices per PSC rules.
The Middleton Public Works Committee on Dec. 8 recommended that the finance personnel committee and common counsel adopt a 3% increase in water rates for general service, public fire protection and wholesale customers to be implemented in the first quarter billing cycle of 2026. Alder Myers moved the recommendation; the motion carried by voice vote.
City water utility manager Mike Meyer told the committee the results of a simplified rate case — summarized in the committee packet — reflected a 3% increase concluded by the Public Service Commission. Meyer said the utility is project‑heavy in the coming period and staff plan to bring a project description to the committee in January or February.
Alder Myers noted that Consumer Price Index inflation from January 2022 through September 2025 is 15.5% and commented that the recommended 3% does not match that inflation figure, framing the recommendation as a modest, steady adjustment rather than a larger increase in a single step.
Staff clarified the rate recommendation will go to finance and to common counsel for formal approval; if adopted there, the change would be effective in the first quarter billing cycle of 2026 and customers will receive the public notice required by the PSC.
What’s next: committee staff will forward the recommendation to finance and counsel; public notices will be posted per PSC rules if the recommendation proceeds.
