Notice of Public Hearing Before Public Service Commission (PSC)
PUBLIC NOTICE TO ALL CUSTOMERS OF THE
CAMBRIDGE MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY
The Cambridge Municipal Water Utility (Utility) has filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (Commission) for authority to change its method of cost recovery for providing public fire protection (PFP) service. The Utility’s total PFP cost is $264,933, which includes the additional storage, pumping, and distribution costs required to provide the high flows and pressures needed to fight fires. The Utility currently collects $264,933 from the Village of Cambridge (Village) for providing PFP water service to the Village. This municipal PFP charge is based on 100 percent of the Utility’s total PFP cost. The Village collects the funds to pay for the municipal PFP charge through property taxes. The Village recently approved changing the Utility’s method of PFP cost recovery from the municipal PFP charge to a combination of a municipal charge and direct PFP charges collected through direct bills to water utility customers.
Accordingly, the Utility requested Commission authorization to collect a direct PFP charge from each customer of the water utility and requested the charge be based on the equivalent meters method. This change would allow the Utility to collect a portion of the PFP charge from property owners who benefit from the Utility’s PFP but are not subject to property taxes. This request conforms with Wis. Stat. § 196.03(3)(b), which provides municipalities the option to charge PFP directly on the water utility bills of general service customers as well as non-general service customers who own land that is located in the city, village, or town and in an area in which the municipal utility has an obligation to provide water for PFP. The Utility intends to charge non-general service customers as permitted under Wis. Stat. § 196.03(3)(b)2. The Village adopted a resolution which states the annual direct charge for PFP service will be based on 50 percent of the cost of PFP service and will be calculated using the equivalent meters method.
If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer with a ⅝-inch or ¾-inch meter who uses 3,000 gallons of water per month will increase from $63.25 to $72.50, or 14.62 percent, including the PFP charge.
A public hearing on the application has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. This hearing has no physical location. Parties and Commission staff appear by Zoom. Parties and Commission staff may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no adequate internet connection exists. Members of the public participate by Zoom or may use the telephone connection as a backup or if no adequate internet connection exists.
The Commission intends to livestream and record this hearing on YouTube. A member of the public may observe without participation any hearing session by:
If no adequate internet connection exists, listening by telephone.
Dial: +1 312 626 6799
Enter Meeting ID: 809 513 2930
A person may testify in this proceeding without becoming a party and without attorney representation. A person may submit this testimony in only one of the following ways:
Web Comment. File a comment on the internet. Go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, click the dropdown menu labeled “Commission Action”. Select the item labeled “File a Public Comment”. On the next page select the “File a comment” link that appears for docket number 920-PFP-100. Web comments shall be received no later than Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Live Comment. Make a live comment at the hearing. The ALJ may receive live comments from any member of the public in attendance after the close of any party and Commission staff testimony. The ALJ will receive such comments by stating the name of each member of the public connected to the hearing one at a time and asking if they would like to comment.
Mail Comment. Send a comment by U.S. Mail. All comments submitted by U.S. Mail shall be received no later than Thursday, April 30, 2026 and shall be addressed to: Attn: Docket 920-PFP-100 Comments, Public Service Commission, P.O. Box 7854, Madison, WI 53707-7854.
To access the documents, schedule, and other information about this docket, go to the Commission’s web site at http://psc.wi.gov, select the dropdown menu labeled ‘eServices”. Select the item labeled “Docket Search (CMS)”. On the next page enter 920-PFP-100 in the spaces labeled “Case #” and select “Search”.
If you have any questions, please contact the Utility at (608) 423-3712.
