Indiana-American Water Co. is proposing rate increases for the Warsaw district. The hikes range from 1.67 percent for some industrial customers to 11.70 percent for public fire protection.

The proposed increases are:

Indicated Increase

Customer In Proposed Rates

Class Over Present Rates

Residential 4.39%

Commercial 3.99%

Industrial - Large 4.09%

Industrial - Other 1.65%

Public Authority 6.61%

Public Fire Protection 11.70%

Private Fire Protection 7.29%

If approved, the new rates would be effective in the fall.

Indiana-American Water Co. rates are reviewed and approved by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. An evidentiary hearing is set for Jan 13 at 9:30 a.m. in Indianapolis.

"During the evidentiary hearing Indiana-American will come in with evidence supporting an increase in rates," said IURC representative Chris Kern-Wheeler. "The Office of Consumer Counselor, which represents the public, will put forth evidence as to what they believe rates should be."

This meeting is open to the public and all submitted evidence will be available to the public at this time.

"The primary purpose of the hearing is to allow for cross-examination of the formal parties' witnesses (for the utility and for the OUCC)," according to OUCC public information officer Anthony Swinger.

A field hearing regarding the company's plan is scheduled for Jan. 27 at 6 p.m. at Indiana University Northwest's Savannah Auditorium at 3400 Broadway in Gary.

The field hearing offers the public an opportunity to speak for or against the rate increases. The regional location is the IURC's way to bring the hearings closer to home. Increases proposed in other districts also will be heard on the IU campus.

Written comments can be submitted at the field hearing or to the OUCC, Swinger said. Comments also may be faxed or sent electronically to the OUCC's Web site.

The mailing address is Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room 501, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Attention: Consumer services staff, Case 42520. Include your name, address and telephone number.

The OUCC's fax number is 317-232-5923

On the Net: www.IN.gov/oucc/ Click on "Contact Us" button, which goes straight to an electronic form.

The OUCC has until Feb. 24 to take a position on the case and file testimony.

"Written comments are certainly included in our analysis," Swinger said. "Letters, faxes and e-mails are welcome and carry the same weight as spoken testimony during a field hearing."

The evidentiary hearing reconvenes April 19 in Indianapolis. [[In-content Ad]]