CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois American Water is 7 months into a 11-month-long process after filing a rate increase request with the Illinois Commerce Commission. On Tuesday night, the ICC held a meeting for public comment.

Illinois American Water is seeking a $557 million investment into their systems to improve their infrastructure. This would include adding enhancements at water treatment facilities, changing the pipes currently in the ground, and adding new elevated water tanks.

Laura Lloyd is Regulatory Counsel for the Citizens Utility Board, a utility consumer advocacy nonprofit organization. She went to the meeting to share public comment on behalf of CUB and rate payers. "It's just not feasible for pretty much any of these customers to be paying this much money for a basic human need." said Lloyd "All they want is access to clean, reliable water, and they're being asked to pay a ridiculous amount of money for that."

Members of the Executive Board of Illinois American Water assured community members that rates have not -- and will not -- change until the final order is released by the ICC. Based on their current timeline, the ICC plans on releasing a final decision on December 17th. Illinois Water plans on implementing the final order in January 2025. 

Citizens can file public comment on the specific case on the ICC website. People can also sign a petition with the Citizens Utility Board.

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