The Citizens Utility Board criticized Illinois American Water’s recent rate-hike request made to the Illinois Commerce Commission.

“Illinois American’s $152 million rate-hike request is severe and greedy—the company is pushing for an excessive profit rate for its shareholders—and CUB will do everything it can to reduce it,” Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Sarah Moskowitz said. “We often hear complaints from Illinois American customers about painfully high bills, fueled by the utility’s aggressive strategy of buying up municipal systems across Illinois, along with winning legislative approval to add a ‘Qualifying Infrastructure Plant’ surcharge to bills. While water customers struggle, Illinois American’s parent company has pulled in about $1.6 billion in profits over the last two years. This punishing rate hike will be a hardship to consumers who depend on the utility for a vital service–and that’s why we’re challenging the company’s money-grab.”

On Feb. 8, Illinois American Water filed a request to increase rates by $152.4 million, or about 39.5 percent, with the ICC. 

In the rate-hike request, the utility proposes increasing its return on equity, or profit-rate for shareholders, from 9.78 percent to 10.75 percent.     

Illinois American says the rate hike would increase residential monthly water service bills by about $24 per month, while the average residential wastewater bill would increase by about $5 per month. 

Rates would depend on a customer’s service area.        

The CUB said that since 2016, Illinois American has successfully pushed for two other rate hikes before the ICC – an $85 million increase in 2022 and a $35 million increase in 2016.

The rate case, Docket #24-0097, will take approximately 11 months to complete. 

Customers can sign a petition against the rate hike at CUBActionCenter.com, or can file a public comment against the increase directly with the ICC. 

Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest investor-owned water utility in Illinois. It provides water and wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million customers, including residents in Columbia and Waterloo.

The City of Waterloo is building its own water treatment facility near Valmeyer with plans to leave Illinois American Water at the end of a contract that expires this October.