Butler Water 2022 Rate Increase Communication and FAQs
On Thursday, March 10, 2022 the Village of Butler applied to the State of Wisconsin’s Public Service Commission (PSC) for authorization to enact a water rate increase. PSC staff reviewed Butler’s Water Utility finances and on July 19th, 2022 a public hearing was held by the PSC in front of an Administrative Law Judge. On July 29th, the Public Service Commission (PSC) of Wisconsin issued a final decision on a water rate increase for Butler’s Water Utility. The final overall rate change was authorized to be $219,157 or a 45.53% increase over current rates. While the percentage seems high, the average change in water bills is figured to be around $25 to $30 per quarter. The last water rate increases in the Village came in 2019.
Why do we need a rate increase?
The rate increase is necessary because under presently authorized rates, operating revenues will fall far short of what is needed to keep up with current and expected future expenses and the increase will bring the Village’s revenues into line with what is needed to update and maintain water infrastructure. Adding to that, the Village’s current infrastructure is aging rapidly and the additional funding is necessary to replace and repair that aging infrastructure, as well as to keep with regular rate increases from Milwaukee Water Works, from whom the Village purchases water.
When will the increase go into effect?
The rate increase went into effect immediately after the third quarter reading of meters which took place on August 25, 2022 and will be in effect for the fourth quarter billing period that consists of September through November and beyond. The 3rd quarter bill you just received does not include the new rates. Your 4th quarter bill will include new rates.
How much will my water bill go up?
Every customer’s water bill is different and fluctuates based on water usage. The table below shows a variety of average residential quarterly consumption with a 5/8-inch or ¾-inch meter and what their bill would look like before and after the rate increase.
| Average User | Average User | Average User | ||||||
| Gallons Used | 3,805 | Gallons Used | 5,386 | Gallons Used | 9,500 | |||
| 2nd Qtr | New Rates | 2nd Qtr | New Rates | 2nd Qtr | New Rates | |||
| Fire Protection | $8.01 | $11.85 | $8.01 | $11.85 | $8.01 | $11.85 | ||
| Recycling | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | $12.00 | ||
| Res Sewer | $92.15 | $92.15 | $104.43 | $104.43 | $136.40 | $136.40 | ||
| Storm Sewer | $31.21 | $31.21 | $31.21 | $31.21 | $31.21 | $31.21 | ||
| Water | $39.78 | $55.79 | $45.10 | $64.01 | $58.92 | $85.40 | ||
| Total | $183.15 | $203.00 | $200.75 | $223.50 | $246.54 | $276.86 | ||
| Increase | $19.85 | Increase | $22.75 | Increase | $30.32 | |||
These increases include the portion of the Public Fire Protection Fee that will be included on the water utility bill. A public fire protection charge is levied to recover the cost incurred by the Village when building and maintaining the infrastructure needed to supply the proper volume and pressure of water for fighting fires.
The PSC’s full rate determination as well as all of the information included in this letter is available here: Rate Decision
Please feel free to contact Village Hall (262) 783-2525 or email Village Administrator Kayla Thorpe at kthorpe@butlerwi.gov if you have any questions after you review these materials.
| Village of Butler Water Utility Rate Increase Sheet | |||||||||
| New Rates Effective August 26, 2022 | |||||||||
| Water Base Charges (Fees charged regardless of consumption) | Water Consumption Charges (Fees charged per 1,000 gallons of water consumed) | ||||||||
| Meter Size | Old Rate | New Rate | Increase | Gallons Used | Old Rate | New Rate | Increase | ||
| 5/8 inch | $ 27.00 | $36.00 | $9.00 | Up to 35,000 | $3.36 | $5.20 | $1.84 | ||
| 3/4 inch | $27.00 | $36.00 | $9.00 | 35,000 – 200,000 | $3.09 | $4.45 | $1.36 | ||
| 1 inch | $45.00 | $51.00 | $6.00 | 200,000 – 500,000 | $3.00 | $4.20 | $1.20 | ||
| 1.5 inch | $72.00 | $81.00 | $9.00 | 500,000 – 99,999,999 | $2.67 | $3.87 | $1.20 | ||
| 2 inch | $99.00 | $120.00 | $21.00 | ||||||
| 3 inch | $156.00 | $189.00 | $33.00 | ||||||
| 4 inch | $234.00 | $285.00 | $51.00 | ||||||
| Public Fire Protection (Quarterly fee for hydrant system maintenance) | Private Fire Protection (Quarterly fee to those with private sprinkler systems) | ||||||||
| Meter Size | Old Rate | New Rate | Increase | Meter Size | Old Rate | New Rate | Increase | ||
| 5/8 inch | $8.01 | $11.85 | $3.84 | 5/8 inch | $27.00 | $30.00 | $3.00 | ||
| 3/4 inch | $8.01 | $11.85 | $3.84 | 3/4 inch | $27.00 | $30.00 | $3.00 | ||
| 1 inch | $20.07 | $30.00 | $9.93 | 1 inch | $27.00 | $30.00 | $3.00 | ||
| 1.5 inch | $40.14 | $60.00 | $19.86 | 1.5 inch | $27.00 | $30.00 | $3.00 | ||
| 2 inch | $66.00 | $93.00 | $27.00 | 2 inch | $27.00 | $30.00 | $3.00 | ||
| 3 inch | $123.00 | $177.00 | $54.00 | 3 inch | $45.00 | $60.00 | $15.00 | ||
| 4 inch | $201.00 | $297.00 | $96.00 | 4 inch | $72.00 | $90.00 | $18.00 | ||
| 6 inch | $150.00 | $180.00 | $30.00 | ||||||
| 8 inch | $240.00 | $270.00 | $30.00 | ||||||