Madison Water Utility announced Thursday it is seeking a water rate increase, subject to approval from the Public Services Commission, according to a city of Madison press release.
The rate increase, though not determined at this time, will provide for a 30 percent overall boost in revenues and will be used to replace old water mains, general manager Tom Heikkinen said in the release.
According to MWU Public Information Officer Amy Barrilleaux, there is pipework that hasn’t been restored since the 1950s.
“Most of our infrastructure was built during that post-WWII population boom,” Barrilleaux explained in a press conference two weeks ago. “If you drove on a road that was 65 years old you’d really have a hard time and that’s how our pipes are.”
The MWU also announced plans to reward customers that use less water, offering a conservation rate during peak water usage months. The new rates, if approved, could go into effect in the spring of 2015.
