Evansville's most recent water rates received approval from the Commission in March of 2022 in IURC Cause No. 45545.
The IURC's Mar. 2, 2022 order will allow a five-phase rate increase, with the total increase to reach approximately 28.6 percent when fully implemented in 2026.
In its rate case, the city proposed a phased-in, annual increase over the next five years, along with issuance of long-term debt, to pay for a long-term capital improvement plan and increases in operating and maintenance expenses. Evansville originally proposed raising monthly residential water charges for 5,000 gallons from the current $45.12 to $61.33 once the increase is fully implemented in 2026. These amounts include fire protection charges, and equate to a total increase of more than 35 percent. In rebuttal testimony filed on Sept. 24, 2021, the city reduced its request to approximately 31 percent.
The OUCC's recommendations would have limited the total increase to 21.4 percent, with monthly residential water charges for a 5,000-gallon bill reaching $54.51 when fully implemented. OUCC witnesses recommended a two-phase increase, with the first phase taking effect in 2023 and the second taking effect no earlier than 2024. OUCC testimony was filed on Sept. 3, 2021:
The OUCC filed its proposed order on Dec. 8, 2021.
Please see our timeline for an overview of steps in a rate case.
All public documents in the case are available from the IURC's electronic document system, including the utility's case-in-chief:
An IURC public field hearing was held in Evansville on Aug. 12, 2021. The OUCC's July 27, 2021 news release and video offer more information.
Only the city's water rates were at issue in this case. State law does not give the IURC jurisdiction over municipal sewer rates, with those rates and charges set by elected city and town councils throughout the state.
