DuPage Township residents came out in force Monday to voice their opinion regarding a rate increase proposed by Illinois American Water.
Over 300 people packed the Township’s Senior (Levy) Center, overflowing on to seats set up on the center’s patio.
“The crowd sent a strong message to the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois State Senate and Governor Pritzer that this proposed increase is unacceptable,” said DuPage Township Supervisor Gary Marschke.
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The public forum, one of only four in the state was, presented by the Illinois Commerce Commission in cooperation with DuPage Township and the Village of Bolingbrook.
During the more than 90-minute public comment portion about 30 people spoke to representatives from Illinois American Water, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), the Village of Bolingbrook and DuPage Township. CUB is an advocacy group for utility customers created by the Illinois General Assembly.
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State Senator Rachel Ventura and State Representative Dee Avelar also addressed the room. They have publicly spoken against the rate increase.
“We cannot continue to put profit over people,” said Ventura. “I strongly believe that water should not be privatized at all, as it is essential to all life, but this particular fight is about putting the interests of the residents of Bolingbrook first – not a private company. I stand with the residents of Bolingbrook, Citizens Utility Board, and the Village of Bolingbrook in asking to deny this rate hike.”
Rep. Avelar, in 2023, filed HB2721 with the Illinois General Assembly, seeking to amend the Public Utilities Act.
"The rising cost of living due to inflation have made everyday costs burdensome for families especially for lower and fixed income households," said Avelar.
"This proposed utility increase makes it difficult for families to survive, as it adds another rising cost to already high bills. I know the challenges constituents face with high costs and inflation, that is why I have also made efforts aiming to slow down the utility rate increases across Illinois.
"My own bill, HB 2721 would remove language that would allow the Illinois Commerce Commission to authorize surcharges by water and sewage companies in order to cover their costs of building new infrastructure plants and profit off of consumers. It’s important we challenge this price increase to keep costs low and deliver relief to our families."
Illinois American says the latest rate hike would increase average residential monthly water service bills by about $24 per month, while the average wastewater bill would increase by about $3 to $5 per month. Actual rates would depend on a customer’s service area.
Which Illinois American Water President Rebecca Losli pointed out was less than a $1 a day.
However, audience members pointed out that at the minimum it’s an increase of $324 a year.
According to the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Illinois American Water, the largest investor-owned water and wastewater utility in Illinois, serving about 1.3 million customers, filed a $152.4 million (39.5 percent) rate-hike request with the ICC in January 2024.
The company has already won $120 million in rate hikes in less than a decade–an $85 million increase in 2022 and a $35 million hike in 2016, according to the CUB website. The ICC will rule on the rate case, Docket #24-0097, late this year, and new rates would take effect in early 2025.
