Columbus City Utilities

The IURC has approved a settlement agreement setting new water rates for Columbus City Utilities (IURC Cause No. 45427). The agreement approves the city's first water rate increase in more than 25 years. Monthly residential water charges for 5,000 gallons will increase in three phases, rising from the current $11.43 amount to $19.80 when fully implemented in 2024.

• Settlement Agreement
• OUCC Settlement Testimony
• Columbus Settlement Testimony

The OUCC recommended approval of most of the utility's request in its Dec. 11, 2020 testimony:

• Malan
• Willoughby
• Dellinger
• Mierzwa

Our infographic outlines the steps in a rate case.

An IURC public field hearing was held in Columbus on Dec. 2, 2020. The OUCC issued a Nov. 23, 2020 news release to invite consumer comments.

All publicly filed documents are posted in the IURC's online case file, including the utility's initial testimony:

• Dompke
• McNulty
• Baldessari

Previous water rates for Columbus were approved in 1994.

Only the city's water rates were at issue in this case. Municipal sewer utilities are exempt from IURC oversight, with locally elected city and town councils setting their rates.

3-30-2021