Increase in Water Rate Not as Bad as It Could Have Been

 The average Menomonee Falls household will see a slight increase in its sewer and water bill in April.

Single-family customers will see an increase of 0.8 percent, or $7.71, in their annual bill. However, because the sewer charge this year is lower than in 2010,, the total water and sewer bill as of April still be about $18 less than last year. Residents will see the new rates reflected in their April bills.

The 0.8 percent increase could have been much larger if it weren’t for the collaboration between village consultants and the state Public Service Commission, which is an independent agency that regulates Wisconsin public utilities.

Milwaukee Water Works, the wholesale water supplier to Menomonee Falls, originally proposed an increase of 36 percent in wholesale costs to the village. Milwaukee dropped the increase to 28 percent and then to 20.5 percent, which was presented Nov.1.

However, upon further consideration of the data and analyses of the village consultant team, PSC commissioners reduced the rate increase to a 10.7 percent increase for general water supply charges.

“The difference from what was originally proposed and what was approved is very, very different,” Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald said. “Although there is an increase, there were significant savings for the consumer and the process was well worth it.”

Director of Utilities Jeffrey Nettesheim presented the final rate determination to the Village Board Monday. Milwaukee initially proposed a 36 percent increase to address increased costs in wages and benefits, electric, fuel and maintaining infrastructure.

Milwaukee also needed to address unexpected pressures, including a 12 percent decrease in usage over the past three years and $1.1 million payment to the city's pension fund in 2010.

“The increases would have been astronomical before the consortium and our experts got together on this,” Nettesheim said.

                   Annual Utility Bill for Average Single-Family Home