Community members were recently given a chance to weigh in on Columbus City Utilities’ request for a water rate increase.
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor held a field hearing Wednesday night for the proposed rate increase.
Brad Pope, the presiding administrative law judge for the proceeding, noted it was "the commission’s first virtual field hearing." Most attendees, including four IURC commissioners, were present through a video call.
Members of the public were invited to offer comment by phone or in person at the Belvedere Room of Hotel Indigo (while wearing a mask and following social distancing protocols). There was also a YouTube livestream for those who wished to watch but not speak. The video has since been taken down.
Only one individual offered testimony at Wednesday’s hearing. Mary Beth Clauss, a customer of the city water utility, attended in person at the Hotel Indigo. She spoke about how rate increase might be a strain on some customers, especially those who have lost jobs amid the pandemic.
"It is really a difficult time for people," she said. "And to add another burden, financial burden, on them might only make our economy worse. We know that people have moratoriums on evictions, so they haven’t been paying rent, but that’s going to come due. And so this might place an undue burden financially and hurt the economy even more. So the timing seems a little bit callous, given the current climate.”
Clauss added that there doesn’t seem to be "coordination" between local taxes and rate increases. She noted that between an increase to fund a drug court and the coming increase due to the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s referendum, her property taxes will rise from $500 to $1,000 in the summer of 2021. She then added that if the proposed rate increase is approved, water rates will increase 81% over the next three years.
The city is proposing a three-phase increase. If approved, water residential charges for a customer using 5,000 gallons per month would increase in August from $11.43 to $16.60. Those charges would later increase to $19.41 in January 2023 and $20.65 in January 2024.
“I hope that you would consider the financial duress that a lot of people are in right now and the timing … and take that into consideration when deciding when and how much you’re going to increase the rates," Clauss said.
After Clauss’s testimony, Pope called a brief recess to see if anyone else would show up to speak. No one did.
There is still time for members of the public to submit comments on the rate case. The OUCC will include comments received by the close of business on Dec. 8 in its public testimonial filing with the IURC, and the comments become part of case evidence.
Comments may be sent to in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email to [email protected] or by mail to: Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
The OUCC, which represents consumer interests in cases before the IURC, is scheduled to file testimony on the case Dec. 11. According to its website, testimony will be available online at www.in.gov/oucc/2781.htm after it is filed, and updates will be pasted on the same page.
The final order on the case is expected to come in the summer of 2021. If the IURC approves a rate increase, it could take effect around August 2021.
In most cases where the state commission approves an increase, the rate hike is less than what is originally requested. Utilities executive director Scott Dompke has said in the past that if the IURC approves an amended rate increase, city council will have to vote to adopt the revised rate ordinance.
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Current water rates for Columbus were approved in 1992. The city is proposing a three-phase increase. If approved, water residential charges for a customer using 5,000 gallons per month would increase in August from $11.43 to $16.60. Those charges would later increase to $19.41 in January 2023 and $20.65 in January 2024.
The increase is needed for operating and maintenance costs and will be used to repay $22.2 million in bonds to pay for new wells, a new storage tank and distribution mains, lab and treatment plant improvements, new meters and more, city utility officials said.
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More information about the water rate case is available at in.gov/oucc/2781.htm, and updates are available by subscribing at in.gov/oucc/news/.
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The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is still receiving comments on the rate case. Those who wish to submit comments are strongly encouraged to do so in writing. The office will include comments received by the close of business on Dec. 8 in its public testimonial filing with the IURC, and the comments become part of case evidence.
Comments may be sent to in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, by email to [email protected] or by mail to: Consumer Services Staff, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
All comments are due by Dec. 8 and should include the consumer’s name, mailing address and a reference to IURC Cause No. 45427 or Columbus City Utilities. According to the OUCC’s website, each writer should also state if they are a customer of the utility and whether their comments are on their own behalf or on behalf of a business or organization.
Those with questions may call 888-441-2494.
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