伊利诺伊州两大私营水务公司——Illinois American Water 和 Aqua Illinois 正寻求获得监管机构的批准，以大幅上调水费和污水处理费。与此同时，这两家公司的母公司分别拟进行合并交易 [1]。针对这一系列动态，消费者监督组织 Citizens Utility Board（CUB）警告称，相关合并将导致市场过度集中并损害消费者权益，呼吁监管机构拒绝该交易或设定严格限制 [1]。
在费率调整申请方面，Illinois American Water 提交了总额为 1.42 亿美元的调价请求。若获批准，预计其服务的 35.7 万住宅用户每月水费将增加约 14 美元，污水处理费将增加约 28 美元 [1]。该公司总裁 Rebecca Losli 表示，这笔申请资金将用于支持 2026 年至 2027 年间高达 5.77 亿美元的现代化改造项目 [1]。另一家公司 Aqua Illinois 则申请了 2650 万美元的费率上调，预计其服务的 9 万多用户平均每月账单将增加约 23 美元 [1]。此外，Aqua Illinois 计划将其股东权益回报率从目前的 9.6% 提高至 10.8%，这一提议被 CUB 批评为“令人震惊”[1]。
关于母公司合并事宜，Illinois American Water 的母公司 American Water 与 Aqua Illinois 的母公司 Essential Utilities 拟进行合并 [1]。如果该交易获得批准，合并后的实体将控制伊利诺伊州高达 99.99% 的受监管水务客户市场 [1]。CUB 执行董事 Sarah Moskowitz 指出，此类合并无法解决长期存在的账单上涨和服务质量低下等问题 [1]。
目前，相关裁决时间表已初步确定：Illinois 商业委员会（ICC）预计将于 2027 年 5 月裁定 Aqua Illinois 的费率案，同年 12 月裁定 Illinois American Water 的费率申请，并于 2027 年 11 月对合并案作出最终裁决 [1]。
Two major private utility companies in Illinois are seeking regulatory approval for significant rate hikes while their parent corporations plan a merger that would consolidate control over the state's water market. Citizens Utility Board, a consumer advocacy group, has warned that this consolidation will lead to excessive market concentration and harm consumer interests, urging regulators to reject the deal or impose strict limitations [1].
Illinois American Water is requesting approval for a $142 million rate increase. The company states these funds are intended for modernization projects totaling $577 million scheduled between 2026 and 2027 [1]. If approved, this adjustment would raise monthly water bills by approximately $14 and sewage charges by about $28 for an estimated 357,000 residential customers in the state [1].
Aqua Illinois is simultaneously seeking a rate increase of $26.5 million to boost its shareholder return on equity from 9.6% to 10.8%, a move Citizens Utility Board has criticized as "shocking" [1]. This request would result in an average monthly bill increase of roughly $23 for more than 90,000 customers served by the utility [1].
The proposed merger between American Water and Essential Utilities, the parent companies behind these operations, is expected to give them control over 99.99% of regulated water customers in Illinois if approved [1]. Rebecca Losli, president of Illinois American Water, defended the rate application as necessary for infrastructure upgrades [1].
Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of Citizens Utility Board, stated that such a merger fails to address long-standing issues regarding rising bills and poor service quality [1]. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is scheduled to issue rulings on these matters throughout 2027. Specifically, the commission will decide on Aqua Illinois's rate request in May, rule on Illinois American Water's application in December, and make a final decision on the merger case by November of that year [1].