INDIANAPOLIS — Marion County residents have the opportunity to comment on the sewer rate increase proposed by Citizens Energy Group.
Consumers may either:
Send written comments to the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) by Jan. 15, or speak at the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission’s (IURC’s) public field hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 12.
The IURC’s Jan. 12 public field hearing will be held in the auditorium at Emmerich Manual High School (2405 Madison Ave. in Indianapolis) at 6 p.m. An OUCC informational meeting on field hearing procedures and the regulatory process will start at 5:30 p.m.
During the public field hearing consumers will be able to speak directly to the Commission, under oath and on the record. Consumers will also be able to submit written comments for the case record. Commissioners are not allowed to answer questions during the field hearing. However, OUCC staff will be available before, during, and after the hearing to address questions about the process.
Citizens Energy Group — whose sewer utility does business as CWA Authority, Inc. — is proposing a two-phase increase in its rates for sewage disposal service. According to the utility’s testimony and exhibits, the additional revenues would pay for the continuation of major capital projects (most of which are required under a federal consent decree), the continuation of the utility’s septic tank elimination program, and proposed extensions and replacements to the sewage disposal collection system. The utility’s proposal would generate about $87 million in new annual operating revenues when fully implemented, with the impact varying among the residential, commercial and industrial customer classes.
Consumers who wish to submit written comments for the sewer rate case record may do so via the OUCC’s Website 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
Consumers with questions about submitting written comments can contact the OUCC’s consumer services staff
toll-free at 1-888-441-2494.