Bolingbrook Mayor, Legislators Urge ICC To Reject Water Rate Hike

BOLINGBROOK, IL — At a press conference on Wednesday, Village of Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta called on the Illinois Commerce Commission to reject a water rate hike request from Illinois American Water.

Alexander-Basta said the costs that IAW allegedly needs to cover should come from the hundreds of millions of dollars in profits generated annually by IAW and its parent company American Water Works Company, Inc.

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Mayor Alexander-Basta cited that five water rate increases, including the most recent, total more than $453 million in the past decade, saying the Citizens Utility Board which has denounced IAW as a “rate hike machine.”

“Illinois American Water has asked the Illinois Commerce Commission to approve a $134 million rate increase. This request comes after previous rate increases over the past decade of over $319 million. If approved, that would bring the total to approximately $453 million in additional rate increases in just the past ten years,” Alexander-Basta said during the press conference.

“At some point, we must ask, how much is enough? The parent company, American Water Works, reported more than $1.1 billion in net income in 2025. The key word here is net. Net meaning after all expenses were paid, yet once again, customers are being asked to pay more. The question many residents are asking is simple: Why can't more of the investment in infrastructure and system improvement come from the company's profits rather than the pockets of the working families?”

Alexander-Basta urged area residents to speak out against the increase at a public hearing the ICC will host at the Bolingbrook Community Center, 201 Canterbury Lane, on July 14 at 7 p.m.

“Water is not a luxury, it's not a vacation, it's not a TV, and it's not a shopping trip that can be postponed. Water, electricity, and natural gas are essential services that every family needs to live with dignity, safety, and health,” Alexander-Basta said. “That is why utility companies have a different responsibility than ordinary retail businesses. Their mission should not only be to serve shareholders, but to provide safe, reliable, and affordable services to the people who have no choice but to be their customers.”

During the press conference, Bolingbrook Village Attorney Burton Odelson detailed how the Village is engaged in a legal fight over rate hikes approved in 2024.

“Four days ago, we celebrated the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That declaration promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as does the Constitution of the State of Illinois. The public utility laws of our state require utility rates to be just and reasonable,” said Odelson. “I didn't make those words up; they're in our law. When there's only one game in town, Illinois American Water, and it raises rates, and the Illinois Commerce Commission allowed the rate hike in 2025, and the only game in town asks for another substantial increase one year later, our citizens in Bolingbrook and throughout the state are endangered. Because without clean, affordable water, there can be no life, no liberty, and certainly no pursuit of happiness.”

Odelson also criticized ICC board members for failing to attend these public hearings.

“How do you hear the people when you don't show up? When you don't look them in the eye, when you don't hear the anxiety and despair in their voices? We will see each other on July 14. The Village will continue to exhaust all legal remedies on behalf of our residents,” Odelson said.

Several Illinois legislators also showed support at the press conference including State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel (49th Dist.), State Rep. and Assistant Majority Leader Dagmara Avelar 85th (Dist.), and State Rep. Natalie A. Manley (98th Dist.).

Village Administrator Lucas Rickelman explained that Bolingbrook had entered into an agreement with Citizens Utility to provide water years ago but noted that Citizens was then purchased by IAW.