(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois American Water has filed a new rate increase request with the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Illinois American Water is seeking a $152 million rate increase, which would raise monthly household water bills by about $24 dollars and wastewater bills by about $5 dollars.
The company points to infrastructure improvements totaling nearly $560 million dollars.
The Citizens Utility Board calls it “excessive,” noting the company is looking to increase the profits for shareholders from 9.78% to 10.75%.
The watchdog group also notes the costs associated with the company buying municipal water systems, which is 100% paid by customers.
On the Illinois Commerce Commission comment page, no one showed support for this.
One woman wrote, “The rates for this utility went up more than 100% at the beginning of 2023.”
She’s conserving water to keep the bill under $180 dollars. It used to be under $100.
"Totally unacceptable," another wrote. “Do what’s right for your customers and not shareholders.”
The owner of a golf course wrote, “We paid $52,000 more in 2024 than in 2023. This is not sustainable.”
Several said water is a human right.
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