Public Notice

Public Notice PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS OF THE RIB MOUNTAIN WATER UTILITY The Rib Mountain 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 40.86 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 155.39 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 1991. The total increase in water revenues requested is $93,387 which will result in an estimated overall rate increase of 11.91 percent over the water utility's present revenues. The Utility's current total PFP cost of $175,545, 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 $175,545 from the Village of Rib Mountain (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 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 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 does not intend to charge non-general service customers. The Village adopted a resolution setting the annual charge for PFP service to the Village to 50 percent of the PFP costs. If the Commission approves its request, the Utility will bill the remaining 50 percent to retail general service customers through a direct PFP charge that is calculated using the equivalent meters method. The proposed total PFP cost is $180,364. If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer with a -inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 12,000 gallons of water per quarter will increase from $50.56 to $64.79, or 28.14 including the public fire protection charge. A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Friday, October 10, 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 adequate internet connection exists. Members of the public participate by Zoom or may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no adequate internet connection exists. Join Zoom over the internet at: https://us02web.zoom.us/my/pschearings The Commission intends to livestream and record this hearing on YouTube. A member of the public may observe without participation any hearing session by: 1. Attending any physical location as noticed, 2. Watching on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@PSCWI-Hearings, 3. If no adequate internet connection exists, listening by telephone. • Dial: +1 312 626 6799 • Enter Meeting ID: 809 513 2930 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 5045-WR-102. Web comments shall be received no later than Tuesday, October 14, 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 Tuesday, October 14, 2025 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 5045-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 5045-WR-102 in the spaces labeled "Case #" and select "Search". If you have any questions, please contact the Rib Mountain Water Utility at 715-359-6177. WNAXLP October 2 2025 LWIX0380839