[미국] 일리노이 아메리칸 워터, 상하수도 요금 조정 신청
일리노이 상업 위원회(ICC)에 상하수도 요금 인하 조정

 

[사진출처 = 아메리칸 워터 페이스북]

 

일리노이 아메리칸 워터(Illinois American Water)는 일리노이 상업 위원회(ICC)에 안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 상하수도 서비스를 제공하기 위한 광범위한 투자 조사에 따라 상하수도 기본 요금 조정 신청을 했다고 지난 2월 10일(현지시간) 밝혔다.

 

일리노이 아메리칸 워터의 이러한 요청은 2018년부터 2023년까지 주 전역 물인프라 시설 개선을 위한 11억 달러 이상(수도 시스템 개선 9억4천800만 달러, 하수 시스템 개선 2억 4천만 달러)규모의 투자와 관련된 것이다.

 

상하수도 시설 투자는 약 141마일의 노후화된 파이프라인 교체, 라이닝 설치가 포함되며, 주 전역의 물 및 하수 처리장, 저장 탱크, 우물, 펌핑 스테이션, 소화전, 계량기, 맨홀 등의 업그레이드도 포함돼 있다.

 

회사가 제안한 요금이 요청한 대로 승인될 경우 5‧8인치 계량기로 월 3천500갤런을 사용하는 일반 주거 고객의 월 수도요금은 서비스 지역에 따라 월 6~14달러로 책정될 예정이며 일반 하수 요금은 서비스 지역에 따라 월 7~17달러 사이가 될 전망이다.

 

저스틴 랜더(Justin Ladner) 일리노이 아메리칸 워터 CEO는 “주 전역 146개 커뮤니티에 있는 130만 일리노이 주민들에게 안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 서비스를 제공하기 위해 상수도 및 하수 시스템에 신중히 계획하고 투자하고 있다. 이러한 투자는 현재와 미래에 뛰어난 서비스와 안정성을 제공하는 데 핵심이 된다”고 설명했다.

 

그에 따르면 일리노이 아메리칸 워터의 고객당 운영 및 유지 관리 비용은 2012년 이후 거의 변동이 없었지만 비용은 계속 증가하고 있다고 설명했다. 그는 “이는 우리의 구매력을 활용할 수 있는 능력과 비용 관리를 위한 팀의 노력의 결과로 안정적인 서비스를 계속 제공하면서 고객 요금을 가능한 한 낮게 유지할 수 있도록 노력할 것”이라고 말했다.

 

고객 지원을 위한 일리노이 아메리칸 워터의 요금 변경 요청에는 저소득 할인 관세가 포함되며 소득 할인 관세는 자격을 갖춘 주거 고객을 위해 수도 및 하수 서비스 모두에 대한 요금을 약 70% 감소시킬 수 있다. 이것은 주거 고객의 월별 수도요금을 약 23달러 낮출 수 있는 것으로 지역에 따라 한 달에 약 8~15달러까지 혜택을 받을 수 있다.

 

[원문보기]

 

Illinois American Water Submits Rate Change Request to Illinois Commerce Commission
Over $1.1 billion in water and wastewater system upgrades from 2018 through 2023; Request also includes a low-income discount tariff to assist customers

 

Belleville, Ill. (Feb. 10, 2022) — Illinois American Water today filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to adjust its water and wastewater base rates following an extensive examination of investments to provide safe and reliable water and wastewater service.  The request is driven primarily by over $1.1 billion in completed or planned investment – $948 million in water system improvements and approximately $204 million in wastewater system improvements – across the state from 2018 through 2023.

 

The filing is a necessary first step in the 11-month ICC rate review process; rates are not changing at this time.  Any new rates would not become effective until early 2023, six years since Illinois American Water’s last general rate change in 2017.

“We carefully plan and invest in our water and wastewater systems to provide safe and reliable service to nearly 1.3 million Illinoisians in 146 communities across the state,” said Justin Ladner, Illinois American Water President.  “These investments are key to providing outstanding service and reliability, both now and in the future.”

 

Investments include the replacement, lining and installation of approximately 141 miles of aging water and wastewater pipelines. Investments also include upgrading water and wastewater treatment plants, storage tanks, wells, pumping stations, fire hydrants, meters, manholes and more across the state.

 

If the company’s proposed rates are approved as requested, the monthly water service bill for the typical residential customer using 3,500 gallons per month with a 5/8-inch meter would increase between $6 and $14 per month, depending on the service area. The typical residential wastewater bill would increase between $7 and $17 per month, depending on the service area.

 

“By making prudent, ongoing investments to maintain and upgrade our water and wastewater systems, Illinois American Water is committed to the safety and reliability of our systems in the communities we serve,” Ladner stated.  “At the same time, we remain steadfastly committed to addressing the needs of our most vulnerable customers and supporting affordability.”

 

According to Ladner, Illinois American Water’s operating and maintenance costs per customer have remained virtually unchanged since 2012, though costs continue to rise.  He said, “This is a result of our ability to leverage our purchasing power and our team’s effort to manage expenses so we can keep customer rates as low as possible while continuing to deliver reliable service.”

 

To further assist customers, Illinois American Water’s rate change request includes a low-income discount tariff. If approved, the low-income discount tariff would provide an approximately 70% decrease in the volumetric charge for both water and wastewater service for qualifying residential customers.  This could result in lowering a typical residential customer’s monthly bill for 3,500 gallons with a 5/8-inch meter by about $23 for water service. A combined collection and treatment wastewater service bill for the same customer could see a decrease of about $8 to $15 a month, depending on the service area.

 

“It is important that any rate change reflect our commitment to affordability for our customers as well as the critical investments in our systems to maintain public health,” said Ladner.

 

Some of the company’s critical infrastructure projects included in the rate request are as follows:

◾Ongoing replacement of lead service lines across the state.
◾Solar fields in Champaign and in Peoria. The energy-saving photovoltaic (PV) fields, which convert light to usable energy, are the largest of their kind within American Water’s footprint, nationwide.
◾Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection installed at several water treatment plants including Alton, East St. Louis, Granite City and Streator. The new treatment technology supports safe drinking water to residents and businesses.
◾A new South Water Treatment Plant in the Lincoln service area to support continued, reliable service.
◾New Chemical Feed Systems in Champaign, Alton, East St. Louis, Streator, Peoria and Jerseyville. The improvements support continued and reliable service and allows for the safe and secure handling of chemicals.
◾Over six miles of sanitary sewer main installation in Alton to address requirements set forth by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to remedy combined sewer overflows.
◾Upgrades to the Chickasaw Water Reclamation Facility in Homer Glen to support continued, reliable service, and meet enhanced regulatory requirements.
◾A new high service pump station at the Sterling water treatment plant and a new, larger elevated water tank on the north side of town.
◾Ten water storage tanks to serve the communities of Sterling, Streator, Pontiac, Peoria, Sidney, Lincoln, Arbury Hills, Hardin County, Granite City and East St. Louis.

 

The company’s rate request will undergo extensive public scrutiny by the ICC. This vetting will include numerous data requests and evidentiary hearings. Customers will also have an opportunity to provide public comment. For more information on the company’s request, visit illinoisamwater.com.

 

The increased rates proposed are a request only. The ICC will make the final decision regarding the actual rate change.  Once a final decision has been made, customers will receive information on the new rates.

 

For customers facing a financial hardship, Illinois American Water offers customer assistance through the H2O Help to Others program, payment plans and budget billing. Illinois American Water also provides information to customers about the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP). 

 

[출처 = American Water(https://www.amwater.com/press-room/press-releases/illinois/illinois-american-water-submits-rate-change-request-to-illinois-commerce-commission) / 2022년 2월 10일자 보도자료]