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Public Service Commission of Wisconsin Requests Additional Information from Slinger Utilities

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has sent a detailed data request to Slinger Utilities, a water public utility, to provide additional information related to their application for authority to adjust water rates. The commission is seeking clarification on various matters, including revenue and expense questions, as well as plant account-related inquiries.

Key Takeaways:

  • The commission is reviewing Slinger Utilities' application to adjust water rates and requires additional information to process the application.
  • The utility is asked to provide detailed explanations for variances greater than three percent in their Industrial and Public Authority customer classes.
  • Slinger Utilities is requested to correct the meter counts on Schedule W-02 and W-23 in their 2024 PSC Annual Report.
  • The commission wants to know the 2025 Year-To-Date (YTD) usage for the Residential, Commercial, and Public Authority classes.
  • The utility is asked to explain significant fluctuations in Residential usage since 2020 and how they estimated 80,275 mgals for the 2025 test year.
  • Slinger Utilities is requested to provide detailed explanations for the increase in Public Fire Protection revenue and the decrease in Commercial usage from 2023 to 2024.
  • The commission notes inconsistencies in the utility's reporting of additional meters and requests clarification.
  • The utility is asked to provide a breakout of expenses for various accounts, including Outside Service Employed, Operation Labor, and Accounting and Collecting Labor.
  • Slinger Utilities is requested to explain why they did not report expenses in Accounts 901 and 902 for the past four years.
  • The commission wants to know the details of the utility's current contracts with Infosend and the City of Hartford-Hartford Utilities.
  • Slinger Utilities is asked to provide a copy of their depreciation expense calculation for 2024 and 2025 estimate for both Utility Financed Plant and Contributed Plant.
  • The utility is requested to explain why they reported zero depreciation expense on Contributed Plant in previous years.

Statistics:

  • Slinger Utilities reported variances greater than three percent in their Industrial and Public Authority customer classes.
  • The utility listed the same meter count for each customer class in Schedule W-02 of the 2024 PSC Annual Report.
  • Residential usage has fluctuated significantly since 2020, from a low of 71,484 mgals to a high of 82,929 mgals.
  • Commercial usage decreased from 26,338 mgals in 2023 to 24,775 mgals in 2024.
  • Public Authority usage has fluctuated significantly since 2020, from a low of 4,069 mgals to a high of 12,615 mgals.
  • The utility reported $19,187 in revenue from unmetered sales to general customers in 2021, which increased to $60,028 in 2022.
  • Public Fire Protection revenue was $447,620 in 2024, which the commission believes is high.
  • Slinger Utilities reported zero depreciation expense on Contributed Plant in previous years.

Sources:

  • Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC)
  • Slinger Utilities' application for authority to adjust water rates
  • Wisconsin Admin. Code SS PSC 185.31(1)
  • Schedule W-02 and W-23 of the 2024 PSC Annual Report
  • Slinger Utilities' contracts with Infosend and the City of Hartford-Hartford Utilities
  • Slinger Utilities' depreciation expense calculation for 2024 and 2025 estimate for both Utility Financed Plant and Contributed Plant

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