The Village of Suring 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 54.24 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 54.48 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 2009.

The total increase in water revenues requested is $112,900 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 56.49 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 2,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $34.31 to $55.40, or 61.47% (including the public fire protection charge).

A telephonic public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.  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:

To join by telephone:

Each participant shall provide their name, and status as either a party representative, Commission staff, or a member of the public.  Each participant using the internet connection shall provide this information in the “Join Meeting” dialog screen, or by renaming the participant’s screenname after gaining admittance to the hearing.  Each person connecting by telephone shall provide this information immediately after gaining admittance to the hearing

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 on the internet.  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 5830-WR-103.  Web comments shall be received no later than Tuesday, July 27, 2021.
• Oral Comment.  Speak over the telephone during the public session.  The Administrative Law Judge may receive an oral comment from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party and Commission staff testimony.  The Administrative Law Judge will receive an oral comment by unmuting each phone connection one at a time and inquiring into the each caller’s desire to comment.
• Mail Comment.  Send a comment by U.S. Mail.  All comments submitted by U.S. Mail shall be received no later than Tuesday, July 27, 2021 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 5830-WR-103 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.

All documents in this docket are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Records Filing (ERF) system. To view these documents: (1) go to the Commission’s E-Services Portal at http://apps.psc.wi.gov, (2) enter “5830-WR-103” in the box labeled “Quick Single Docket Search,” and (3) select “Documents”.

If you have any questions, please contact the Village of Suring Water Utility at (920) 842-2333.