New water rates could soon be coming to Stanley, Wisconsin, pending the outcome of a Tuesday afternoon Zoom hearing by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC).
The proposed new rates, based on usage and submitted by the city to the PSC before being returned pre-hearing in slightly revised form, will effectively double city water rates if approved.
Applied to water as based on a 3/4 inch residential meter, the proposed two step rate increase will see residential water volume charges rise $3.09 to $9.78 per 1,000 gallons for step one, followed by an additional $4.22 rise to $14 per 1,000 gallons in step 2.
Included in the proposed rate changes as well are multifamily residential, commercial, industrial, public authority, and Ace Ethanol.
Multifamily residential will see a rate of $9.85 per 1,000 gallons in step 1 and $14.25 per 1,000 gallons for step 2. Commercial will see a rate of $8.40 per 1,000 gallons in step 1 and $11.99 per 1,000 gallons for step 2. Industrial will see a rate of $7.45 per 1,000 gallons for step 1 and $11.50 per 1,000 gallons for step 2, while public authority will see a rate of $9.25 per 1,000 gallons for step 1 and $13.25 per 1,000 gallons for step 2. ACE Ethanol will see a rate of $6.50 per 1,000 gallons for step 1 and $9.25 per 1,000 gallons for step 2.
Fixed fees and public fire charges per quarter will also rise under the proposal, with fixed feed set to rise $9.60 in step 1 to $33.60, an additional $7.40 rise to $41 in step 2. Public fire charges are set to rise $44.27 to $102 in step 1, topping out at $138 in step 2.
Water rate increases come as the water and sewer utilities are required to be self supporting, the last water rate increase taking place in 2017. The rates as proposed await the outcome of a Tuesday PSC hearing, taking place after press time.