230-WR-102 Customer Notice Argyle

PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS OF THE ARGYLE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC AND WATER UTILITY The Argyle Municipal Electric and 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 107.90 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 128.44 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water conventional case was completed in 2001. The total increase in water revenues requested is $136,493 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 93.76 percent over the water utility’s present revenues. The Utility’s current total public fire protection (PFP) cost is $66,147, 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 $66,147 from the Village of Argyle (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. The Village recently approved changing the Utility’s method of PFP cost recovery from the municipal PFP charge to a combination of both a municipal PFP charge and direct PFP charges collected through direct bills to water utility customers. 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 in the method of recovering the PFP charge will 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 who own land that is located in the city, village or town and in an area in which the municipal utility has an obligation to provide water for PFP. The Utility does not intend to charge those non-general service customers. The Village adopted a resolution setting the annual charge for PFP service to the Village to $64,000. (PSC REF#: 545833.) If the Commission approves its request, the Utility would bill the remaining $57,216 to retail general service customers through a direct PFP charge that is calculated using the equivalent meters method. The proposed total PFP charge is $121,216. If the request is granted, the water bill for an average Residential customer with a ⅝-inch or ¾- inch meter who uses 3,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $15.67 to $42.76, or 172.88 percent, which includes the overall increase from the rate case and the Utility’s request to switch from municipal to a combination of municipal and direct PFP charges. A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 11:00 a.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”, select the item labeled “Commission Calendar”, navigate to the hearing for docket number 230-WR-102, and select the “Stream Video” link that appears under “Observe”. 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, and click the dropdown menu labeled “Commission Actions”. Select the item labeled “File a Public Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 230-WR-102. Web comments shall be received no later than Thursday, July 10, 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 Thursday, July 10, 2025 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 230-WR-102 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 230-WR-102 in the spaces labeled “Case #” and select “Search”. If you have any questions, please contact the Utility at (608) 543-3113