The Almena Municipal Water Utility (Utility) has filed an application with the Public Service
Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) to increase water rates. The increase is necessary due
to a 137.30 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 189.63 percent increase in operating
expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 1996. The total increase in water
revenues requested is $61,753 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 73.61
percent over the water utility’s present revenues.
The Utility’s total public fire protection (PFP) cost is $27,775, which includes the additional
storage, pumping, and distribution costs required to provide the high flows and pressures needed
to fight fires. The Utility currently collects $27,775 from the Village of Almena (Village) for
providing PFP water service to the Village. This municipal PFP charge is based on 100 percent
of the Utility’s total PFP cost. The Village collects the funds to pay for the municipal PFP
charge through property taxes. The Village recently approved changing the Utility’s method of
PFP cost recovery from the municipal PFP charge to a direct PFP charge collected through direct
bills to water utility customers. The proposed PFP cost is $44,088.
Accordingly, the Utility requested Commission authorization to collect a direct PFP charge from
each customer of the water utility and requested the charge be based on the Equivalent Meters
Method. This change would allow the Utility to collect a portion of the PFP charge from
property owners who benefit from the Utility’s PFP but are not subject to property taxes. This
request conforms with Wis. Stat. § 196.03(3)(b), which provides municipalities the option to
charge PFP directly on the water utility bills of general service customers as well as non-general
service customers. The Utility intends to charge non-general service customers. The Village
adopted a resolution setting the annual direct charge for PFP service to 100 percent of the total
cost of PFP service, which it will calculate using the Equivalent Meters Method.
If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer with a ⅝-inch or ¾-
inch meter who uses 8,000 gallons of water per quarter will increase from $35.39 to $94.02, or
165.67 percent, which includes the overall increase from the rate case and the Utility’s request to
switch from a municipal charge to direct PFP charges.
A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 3:00
p.m. This hearing has no physical location. Parties and Commission staff appear by Zoom.
Parties and Commission staff may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no practicable
internet connection exists. Members of the public attend by Zoom or by audio-only telephone
connection.
Join Zoom over the internet at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings
To join Zoom telephone:
1. Dial: +1 312 626 6799
2. Enter: 809 513 2930 # (Meeting ID)
The Commission intends to livestream and record this hearing on YouTube. To access the
livestream, go to the Commission’s website at http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu
labeled “News & Events”, and select item labeled “Broadcasts”.
A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney
representation. A person may submit this testimony in only one of the following ways:
 Web Comment. File a comment on the internet. Go to the Commission’s web site at
http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu labeled “Commission Action”. Select the
item labeled “File a Public Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment”
link that appears for docket number 100-WR-101. Web comments shall be received
no later than Monday, January 20, 2025.
 Live Comment. Make a live comment at the hearing. The ALJ may receive live
comments from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party
and Commission staff testimony. The ALJ will receive such comments by stating the
name of each member of the public connected to the hearing one at a time and asking
if they would like to comment.
 Mail Comment. Send a comment by U.S. Mail. All comments submitted by U.S.
Mail shall be received no later than Monday, January 20, 2025 and shall be addressed
to: Attn: Docket 100-WR-101 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box
7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.
To access the documents, schedule, and other information about this docket, go to the
Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, select the dropdown menu labeled ‘eServices”.
Select the item labeled “Docket Search (CMS)”. On the next page enter 100-WR-101 in the
spaces labeled “Case #” and select “Search”.
If you have any questions, please contact the Almena Municipal Water Utility at (715) 357-6600.