Lakes of the Four Seasons residents vented their frustration Tuesday to a rate hike proposed by their water utility, Community Utilities of Indiana.
Eight homeowners provided testimony during an Indiana Utility Rate Commission field hearing attended by about 75 people at Boone Grove High School.
The IURC will make a final decision in November.
“It just seems like they don’t care, and there’s an excuse for everything,” said Linda Stack. “We’re captive. If you don’t like it they’ll shut you off.”
Stack said her family received a $425 water bill for February and March in 2021 when the family was out of town.
“They said the bill was estimated for the whole year. They blamed COVID. Then, the first thing they said was we must have a leak.”
Stack ended up getting $100 off the bill, but still paid $325.
Buffy Adams said her average water bill is more than $200 a month for two people.
“If I was Erin Brockovich, I’d serve a complimentary glass of our fine water,” she said referring to the real-life environmental crusader. Adams and others described their well water as undrinkable. They said it’s ruined water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers.
Community Utilities provides water service via 10 wells and wastewater service from two treatment facilities.
It’s a subsidiary of Chicago-based Corix Regulated Utilities Inc., according to filing documents.
The utility said it needs the increases to cover higher operating and maintenance costs.
It wants infrastructure improvements, including main replacements and upgrades, treatment plant improvements, iron filter replacements, tank painting, new wells, new buildings and new meters to be installed through 2023.
The IURC last approved a rate hike in 2018.
“For all the years, we were paying these high bills, shouldn’t be assume they’d be saving money to put toward infrastructure?” Adams asked.
She said the rate increase would devastate an already stretched-thin community emerging from a pandemic.
“We ask you to hold accountable a utility that doesn’t care about us … please don’t reward them with this unbelievable high rate increase. Tell them to get their house in order, don’t hold us hostage anymore,” Adams said.
Community Utilities of Indiana has proposed a two-phase increase that would raise standard monthly water rates for about 5,400 customers from $42.44 per month to $76.25 in October and $82.60 in October 2023, per 5,000 gallons of use. About 2,600 customers live in LOFS. The rest of the service area includes parts of Merrillville and Jasper and Newton counties.
For low income consumers, the water rate would increase to $49.19 in 2023.
About 3,500 customers would see sewage rates increase from $61.34 to $86.33 in October and $95.83 in 2023.
Sharon Row, who’s lived in Lakes of the Four Seasons for 18 years, said she complained when her water bill doubled and was told she must have a leak.
“They said I missed a bill. I gave them a copy of the cashed check and came home and the water was shut off.”
She said the community’s property manager intervened and Row found out the company had meant to shut off water on another resident.
Row said the water is undrinkable, holding up her house main valve she said was frozen shut from iron deposits. She showed it to hearing officer Jennifer Schuster and IURC member Stefanie Kveda.
Michael Velasco said his home’s basement first suffered a sewage backup in 2007, ruining all his flooring, drywall and furnishings. He said the utility covered the repairs but the backup happened again in 2008.
He said the company installed two valves to prevent future backups, but he can’t turn them. When it rains, water backs up in his shower. He has pumps ready to remove water.
“If it rains, I have to live in the basement to make sure there won’t back up,” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, this company sucks. It always has,” said Velasco as the audience applauded. “I would just like to have this problem solved. When I sell my house, I won’t be able to get the money it’s worth.”
Kelly Ryan said her family has lived in LOFS for 16 years and they’re on their seventh water heater. She said the tanks calcified.
“The customer service is pitiful and bill extremely high. We have to have our water softened. You can’t cook with it. God knows what it does to us bathing in it …”
Charlotte Rongers said her family has lived in LOFS for about 10 years and their water bill this month was $250.
“We’ve replaced the water heater, softener, dishwasher and washing machine,” she said.
The Lakes of the Four Seasons Property Owners’ Association has intervened in the case and is represented by Indianapolis law firm of Bose, McKinney & Evans.
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, the state agency representing consumer interests, is scheduled to file testimony on April 26.
Ratepayers also can file written testimony by April 26 to the IOUCC at www.in.gov/oucc/2361.htm or by mail to: Public Comments, Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South, Indianapolis, IN, 46204. Ratepayers should include their name, address and should reference Cause No. 45651.
Data on the case can be found at the IURC’s website, in.gov>iurc.
An evidentiary hearing is set for June 15 in Indianapolis when attorneys may cross-examine technical witnesses.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
