From State Rep. Steve Reick:

ICC to Host Local Hearing on Proposed Utilities, Inc. Rate Hike

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is hosting a public hearing on Monday, May 7 to gather public input about a water rate hike proposed by Utilities, Inc.

The hearing will be held at Johnsburg High School, 2002 West Ringwood Road in Johnsburg and begins at 7:00 PM. The proposed rate increase would affect many residents of the Johnsburg area.

Earlier this year Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) and I sent a letter to the ICC requesting the hearing after we were contacted by many residents who said they have had their rates increased several times over the last decade.

The current rate hike, if implemented, would be the third rate increase for water and sewer since 2009 for these people.

The constituents who contacted me, many of whom are living on fixed incomes, asked me to help facilitate a local platform where they can come and provide testimony on how this latest rate increase would affect their family budgets, and for some, their ability to remain in their homes.

In 2009, Utilities Inc. serviced the affected area at a monthly rate of $5.14 and consumption rates of $3.14 per 1,000 gallons.

If the latest request is approved by the ICC, those customers would soon have to pay a rate of $35.03 per month with consumption rates of $11.08 per 1,000 gallons; a 353% increase in water/sewer service costs in just eight years

Considering the Consumer Price Index has only risen 13 percent since 2009, increasing rates by more than 350 percent for a necessity like water is extreme.

We have offered to help coordinate the meeting.