The Village of Iola will hold an audiovisual public hearing on its application to raise water rates in the municipality.

This hearing has no physical location. Parties and Commission staff appear by audiovisual connection over the internet. Parties and Commission staff may use the audio only telephone connection as a backup, or if no practicable internet connection exists. Members of the public attend by audiovisual connection over the internet, or by audio-only telephone connection.

Join by audiovisual connection at: https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings.

To join by telephone: Dial: +1 312 626 6799, Enter: 809 513 2930 # (Meeting ID).

The Village requested Commission authorization to collect the direct PFP charge from each customer of the water utility, based on the Equivalent Meters method. This change in the method of recovering the PFP charge will allow the Utility to collect a portion of the PFP charge from property owners who are not subject to property taxes. The Utility intends to charge direct PFP charges to non-general service customers.

Financial picture

The Iola Municipal 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 59.30 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 64.96 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 1997.

The total increase in water revenues requested is $33,532 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 26.54 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 10,000 gallons of water per quarter will increase from $35.66 to $46.60, or 31% (not including the public fire protection charge), and will increase from $35.66 to $56.50, or 58% (including the public fire protection charge).

The Utility currently collects $31,978 from the Village of Iola (Village) for providing PFP water service to the Village. This municipal PFP charge is based on 100 percent of the Utility’s total PFP cost. The total PFP cost is increasing to $34,794, which covers the additional storage, pumping, and distribution required to provide the high flows and pressures needed to fight fires. The Village collects the funds for the current municipal PFP charge from property taxes and pays this charge to the water utility. The Village recently approved changing the Utility’s method of PFP cost recovery from the municipal PFP charge to direct PFP charges collected through direct bills to water utility customers.

Audiovisual meeting info

Upon connecting to the hearing, each participant will enter a waiting room and await admittance to the hearing. Before commencing the hearing, the ALJ will admit each participant who connected before the designated start time. The ALJ will admit each participant who connects after the hearing begins at the earliest opportunity that does not disrupt the hearing. Each member of the public shall remain muted until the ALJ invites that person to comment.

The Commission will livestream the audio of this hearing on its website. The livestream allows anyone to listen to the hearing without connecting to it as described above. To access the livestream, go to the Commission’s website at http://psc.wi.gov, and select “Live Broadcast” button. The live broadcast webpage provides neither: 1) an opportunity to make a comment, nor 2) closed captioning.

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 online. Go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click on “File a Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 2670-WR-102. Web comments shall be received no later than Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Oral Comment. Speak during the hearing. The ALJ may receive an oral comment from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party and Commission staff testimony. The ALJ will receive an oral comment by unmuting each member of the public connected, and inviting that person to comment.

Mail Comment. Submit a comment by U.S. Mail. All comments submitted by U.S. Mail shall be received no later than Tuesday, September 6, 2022 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 2670-WR-102 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.

If you have any questions, please contact Iola Municipal Water Utility at (715) 445-2913.