New water rates for Evansville received IURC approval on Dec. 5, 2018, with an order on reconsideration approved on Dec. 19, 2018. The Commission approved a three-phase rate increase in this litigated case. In its testimony, the OUCC recommended approval of approximately half of the city’s request.

Recommended/requested Increases in Overall Annual Revenues

Under the order, the monthly water rate for a residential customer using 5000 gallons will rise as follows:

• Now: $32.54
• Phase 1: $37.39
• Phase 2: $42.01
• Phase 3: $44.53

The OUCC filed testimony on July 20, 2018, recommending approval of about half of the city's rate request:

• Sisson
• Stull
• Parks
• Seals
• Kaufman

The OUCC filed its closing arguments (proposed order and brief) on Oct. 15, 2018.

The Commission’s order also allows the utility to issue up to nearly $117 million in long-term debt. By comparison, the city requested approval for more than $147 million. The OUCC recommended approval of approximately $115 million.

Public comments were invited in the OUCC's June 11, 2018 news release. An IURC public field hearing was held in Evansville on June 25, 2018.

Evansville’s sewer rates were not at issue in this case. Indiana law does not give the IURC jurisdiction over municipal sewer rates, with those decisions made by locally elected city and town councils.

To review the case file, for Cause No. 45073, please click here.

12-20-18