Village of Homer Glen urges residents to file ICC comments on Illinois American Water merger and rate increase

A Village of Homer Glen staff member urged residents to submit public comments to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) about Illinois American Water’s proposed merger with Aqua Illinois and a requested general rate increase that could raise household water bills.

The announcement said the village “strongly opposed the proposed rate increase as well as the merger with Aqua Illinois” and explained that Illinois American Water’s rates and operating guidelines are overseen by the ICC. The speaker encouraged residents to file comments while the commission is accepting them and noted that every comment is reviewed and becomes part of the official record.

The village provided guidance on what to include in a comment: personal experiences and how the issues affect a household; household size; customer service or communication concerns; billing discrepancies; water-usage inconsistencies; meter issues; or any other details residents believe would be beneficial for the commission to know. “Sharing your lived experience is powerful,” the staff member said, adding that “personal stories can carry weight.”

For residents who need assistance, the village said staff will be available at Village Hall to help with public-comment submissions every Tuesday and Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The announcement also encouraged residents to reach out to friends and neighbors to complete the ICC comment card.

The ICC will consider submitted comments as part of its review of the merger and rate cases. The village framed resident comments as a way to strengthen the community’s stance before the commission.