For all those concerned (as I was initially) with the rate increase on our Village water rates, I strongly recommend that you visit the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin’s Electronic Records Filing System, and read the documents for our own Docket (ID 1920-WR-105).
Here is a direct link to the docket and its documents:
I think the most important documents to note are:
- The original application (simply marked as “Application” at the bottom of that page) which showed the reasoning for the request of rate change, as well as quite a bit of other useful information.
- Data Request-PSC-Elmer-1 – which is the PSC asking our Village Administrator for some additional information and documentation to address items that appeared to be surprising to the PSC
- Response-Data Request-PSC-Elmer-1 – showing our Administrator’s responses to this query
- Ex.-PSC-Revenue Requirement – provides a good summary of the rate case to date, as well as the PSC’s investigative findings
- Ex.-PSC-COSS and Rate Design – shows the PSC’s proposed rates, as well as the numbers and reasonings justifying the rate change
- Final Decision Signed 11/10/22 and Served on 11/11/22 – regards the final, legally binding, decision by the PSC, in detail
It is a great wealth of information, and I believe that there would have been substantially less public outcry if such information was pushed out to the public throughout the process. We should consider doing so in the future. As it stands right now, it appears that the Village relies largely on a “pull” process, where citizens must request information (which they may not even be knowledgeable enough to know to ask for!), rather than a “push” process, where the information is pushed out to all residents.
A more informed community, is a happier, healthier, and better community, in my opinion. I hope that we may all learn from this process, and be better for it going forward. I’ve certainly learned much that I didn’t know before.