Lisle pushes back on Illinois American Water’s proposed rate hikes

Lisle Mayor Mary Jo Mullen is urging customers of Illinois American Water to voice their objections to a proposed rate hike at a public forum Tuesday in Bolingbrook.

The Illinois Commerce Commission organized the public forum regarding a proposed $142 million rate increase. The proposed rate hike, which is expected to add about $14 a month to the average home using 3,500 gallons of water, comes after four other increases, totaling about $319 million, over the last decade.

While Illinois American Water serves several communities in the Chicago area, Mullen noted only a portion of Lisle — or about 600 homes — are serviced through Illinois American Water. Those homes were built at a time when the village did not provide its own water service, Mullen said.

According to a recent review, Illinois American Water customers in Lisle pay roughly three times more than residents who get their water through the village, Mullen said. The fees charged by Illinois American Water, before one drop of water is used, can top $50, Mullen said.

“This is an equity issue,” said Mullen, who opposes the proposed rate increases. “No one should have to pay three times more for an essential resource, like water.”

She urged residents to attend the ICC forum at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bolingbrook Community Center, 201 Canterbury Lane. Those who cannot attend in person can submit written comments via the ICC website, icc.illinois.gov, or by calling its consumer services division at 800-524-0795.

The village has looked at ways to switch those residents to village water, but it is not a simple solution, Mullen said. Lisle officials are working with consultants to study options, including building out a new system so customers can switch to village services and eminent domain to see if the village can take over the utility within its borders. She added that the village is also working with legislators in Springfield to see if the state can aid in the matter.

“There’s no easy button in all this, so we’re working through all that,” she said.

Mullen said she has spoken with Illinois American Water customers who are concerned about the increasing rates. To help save on their water bill, some customers have told Mullen they opt to use the showers at the gym after working out instead of showering at home.

Other communities, including Bolingbrook and Homer Glen, have voiced opposition to the proposed rate hikes. The Citizens Utility Board, a state watchdog, also opposed the hike and is asking the ICC to reject the increases proposed by Illinois American Water and Aqua Water Illinois, the state’s two biggest private water companies that serve several communities in the Chicago region.

American Water, the parent company of Illinois American Water, also wants to buy Aqua’s parent, Essential Utilities, which the Citizens Utility Board also opposes.

Illinois American Water filed its proposed increase with the ICC in January. The new rates will pay for $577 million in improvements that will help modernize and strengthen its wastewater systems across Illinois, Anna Kubas, Illinois American Water’s senior manager for external relations, said in an email earlier this month.

Investments include replacing aging pipes, upgrading treatment facilities, improving storage and pumping systems and meeting evolving regulatory requirements. Some of the improvements in the Chicago area include $3.5 million in a booster tank installation in Woodridge, $2.5 million in lift station improvements in Homer Glen and $1 million in water storage tank renovations in Bolingbrook, Kubas said.

The ICC is expected to make a decision on the proposed rate hikes in December. If approved, the new rates would take effect in January 2027.

• Michelle Mullins, a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown, contributed to this report.