The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) is encouraging Fort Wayne Municipal Water customers to comment on the utility’s pending rate case, through both written comments and the case’s upcoming field hearing in Fort Wayne.

The OUCC – which represents consumer interests in cases before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) – is accepting written consumer comments for the case record through May 31, 2012.

In addition, an Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) public field hearing will be held on Thursday, May 31, 2012 in the Coliseum Campus Auditorium at Ivy Tech Community College – Northeast (3800 N. Anthony Blvd.). The hearing’s public comment portion will begin at 6:00 p.m.

• Sworn oral and written comments regarding the rate case will be accepted during the field hearing.
  
  
• Oral and written consumer comments carry equal weight and will become part of the official evidentiary record considered by the IURC in reaching its final decision.
  
  
• Commissioners are not allowed to answer consumer questions during the formal field hearing. (However, OUCC and IURC staff will be available before during and after each hearing.)
  
  

An OUCC informational session on the regulatory process and public field hearing procedures will precede the hearing, starting at 5:30 p.m.

Fort Wayne’s pending proposal would increase water rates in three phases. A residential customer using 700 cubic feet (approx. 5,200 gallons) of water per month would see his or her water bill rise as follows:

The city is also proposing to issue up to $40 million in long-term debt. According to its testimony, the utility is seeking the changes due to a number of capital improvements (including water main repairs and replacements, filtration plant improvements, a new transmission main for the service territory’s northern area, and the installation of more than 6,000 new, automated meters).

Fort Wayne’s current water rates were approved in September 2006. While the city’s water rates are at issue in this case, state law does not give the IURC jurisdiction over municipal sewer rates.

The OUCC is reviewing the city’s request and is scheduled to file testimony on June 1, 2012.

General Motors Corporation and the City of New Haven have formally intervened in this case and are also scheduled to file testimony on June 1.

Consumers who cannot attend the field hearing may provide written comments to the OUCC online at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm, or by mail, email, or fax:

• Mail: Consumer Services Staff
  Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
  115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
  Indianapolis, IN 46204
  
  
• email: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
  
• Fax: (317) 232-5923

Written comments should include the consumer’s name, mailing address, and a reference to “IURC Cause No. 44162.”

For more information, please visit the OUCC’s Website at www.in.gov/oucc/2705.htm.