YOUR WATER & WASTEWATER RATES

Illinois American Water’s water and wastewater service rates are based on the cost of providing quality, reliable service to customers. Rates also pay for infrastructure upgrades Illinois American Water makes to support reliability and continued compliance with increasing water and wastewater regulations.

Illinois American Water is regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). The only way that Illinois American Water can adjust base rates is with the approval of the ICC.

On January 25, 2024, Illinois American Water filed a rate request with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) reflecting $557 million in water and wastewater system investments to be made through 2025 to continue providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable service. The request reinforces the company’s commitment to investing in its water and wastewater systems to replace aging infrastructure, provide reliable service, enhance water quality and comply with environmental regulations.

The rate request includes $421 million in water system infrastructure improvements and $136 million in wastewater system infrastructure improvements to be made over two years, from January 2024 to December 2025. Investments in the rate request include the replacement of approximately 44 miles of aging water and wastewater pipelines and the upgrading of storage tanks, wells, pumping stations, hydrants, meters, wastewater plants, and more across the state. Also included in the rate request is the ongoing replacement of lead water service lines across the state as well as improvements to water treatment facilities in Cairo, Sterling, Peoria, Leonore, Hardin, Nettle Creek and Saunemin to support continued safe drinking water treatment to residents and businesses.

The ICC issued an rate order on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 with new rates expected to be effective Jan. 1, 2025. The amount of rate change customers will experience will vary among the operating districts. The typical residential customer using 3,500 gallons of water per month with a 5/8-inch meter will increase approximately $16 for water services and approximately $8.50 for wastewater services.

Part of the rate order approves an expansion to the Income-Based Discount program making additional customers who need bill assistance eligible for the program. Illinois American Water will provide additional details when the expansion is implements in 2025. For questions about the program or to apply, customers can call Dollar Energy at 888-282-6816 or they can apply directly at the company’s website at dollarenergy.org/need-help/illinois/ilaw-customer-assistancediscount-program.

Illinois American Water offers customer assistance through its H2O Help to Others program, payment plans and budget billing. Learn more about these programs here.

You can learn more about the rate setting process here.
The order can also be viewed in full here. The related press release can be viewed here.

The below document(s) explain current 2024 rates by service district:
Illinois American Water Rates

Supporting Quality Infrastructure

Illinois American Water is dedicated to investing in local water and wastewater systems to provide reliable, high-quality service. That includes making timely investments in our systems. Our Quality Infrastructure Program helps us to replace and update aging infrastructure on a timely basis.

The Quality Infrastructure Program (QIP) Surcharge funds company improvements to infrastructure replacements in some communities. You can learn more about your bill, as well as your rights and responsibilities here (English | Spanish).

The ICC has also created a Customer Bill of Rights for Illinois Water and Sewer Customers.

For more information about Illinois American Water’s tariffs and Part 280 rules, please see the links below:

Illinois American Water Rules and Regulations, Water and Wastewater Tariffs
Administrative Code Part 280 Rules Implementation Checklist