Indiana American Water Co Rates

• Utility Testimony (Initial Request)

  Indiana American Water filed its petition and the following testimony on March 31, 2023:

  1. Prine
  2. Shimansky
  3. Hobbs: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
  4. Britto
  5. Rea
  6. Furia
  7. Bulkley
  8. Grisham
  9. Cifuentes
  10. O'Drain
  11. Baryenbruch
  12. Kennedy
• Public Comments

  The OUCC issued a June 26, 2023 news release inviting public comments, and included 286 written comments with its testimonial filing.

  In addition, the IURC held public field hearings in Fishers and Gary.

  For a copy of the OUCC's case information sheet provided at the field hearings, click here.

• OUCC Testimony

  The OUCC filed the following testimony on July 21, 2023:

  • Bell
  • Sullivan
  • Stull
  • Malan
  • Compton
  • Dellinger
  • Garrett
  • Mierzwa
  • Parks
  • Seals
  • Willoughby
  • Consumer Comments

Previous Cases

• Previous Base Rate Case (2018-2019)

  A settlement agreement in Indiana American Water Company's (INAWC's) previous base rate case received IURC approval on June 26, 2019. The following links offer additional information:

  • OUCC News Release (6-28-19)
  • OUCC News Release (3-19-19)
  • Settlement Agreement
  • OUCC Settlement Testimony: Stull
  • OUCC Settlement Testimony: Mierzwa
  • IURC Case File

  IURC public field hearings in this case were held in Seymour and Gary, respectively, on November 7 and 26, 2018. The OUCC issued previous news releases in this case in October 2018 and December 2018.

  IAWC's previous base rates were approved in January 2015.

• Distribution System Improvement Charge

  In addition to general rate cases, Indiana law (IC 8-1-31) allows water and sewer utilities to seek expedited rate recovery as often as once per year to replace infrastructure (such as aging distribution lines) that has exceeded its useful life.

  This surcharge is referred to as the Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC).

  • The law allows a water or sewer utility to impose a surcharge to earn a return on investment used to replace aging distribution or collection system infrastructure since its last rate case. Without this law, a utility would be required to wait until its next rate case to begin earning this return.
  • A surcharge may not be imposed for plant additions used to connect new customers.
  • Under the law, total surcharges cannot exceed 10 percent of the base revenue amount approved in the utility’s most recent general base rate case.
    • Certain costs can be recovered through the DSIC and not count toward the 10-percent cap. They include replacements of customer-owned lead service lines and galvanized steel service lines, costs for improvements placed in service due to a road or highway construction or improvement, and property taxes associated with eligible infrastructure improvements.
  • The surcharge, which investor-owned water and sewer utilities may make between general base rate cases, requires IURC approval to take effect. A Commission order is required within 60 days of the utility’s filing.
  • By law, the OUCC must file its report within 30 days of the utility’s request. The OUCC’s review is statutorily limited to whether the infrastructure additions qualify under the statute and whether the surcharge has been calculated correctly.

  Files for INAWC's previous DSIC cases are available by visiting the Commission's website and entering Cause No. 42351.

• Lead Service Line Plan

  INAWC received approval of a lead service line replacement plan on July 25, 2018.

  The utility filed its petition and testimony in IURC Cause No. 45043 on January 29, 2018.

  In testimony filed on April 13, 2018, the OUCC recommended approval of the plan with specific modifications.

• Acquisitions

  In separate dockets, INAWC has received IURC approval to purchase municipal utilities from Lowell, Riley, Georgetown, Sheridan, Lake Station, and Charlestown, along with the River's Edge Utility and Sunset Village Water Utility in Clark County, and Silver Creek Water Corporation in Floyd County.

• Charges for New Connections

  INAWC requested approval of new connection fees and system development charges for new connections in IURC Cause No. 45537. The Commission has granted the utility's unopposed motion to dismiss.