Research Project

Research Primer: Water Rate Setting in Illinois, by Deborah A. Carroll, Amanda Kass, Jason Michnick, and Brooke Wetmore

Research Area(s)
Energy and Water Policy
Government Finance Research

Abstract

In 2021, the Illinois General Assembly awarded the GFRC a state appropriation in the amount of $769,000 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery (CSFR) Fund. The funding will support a three-year “Water Rate Setting Study” that will culminate in two reports addressing seven critical purposes, as outlined in Public Act 101-562 (approved in 2019) and amended by Public Act 102-507 (approved by Governor Pritzker on August 20, 2021). As a preparatory step, the GFRC assembled a primer that provides a preliminary review of water bills, rate structures, drivers of costs, and rate setting processes.   Published: April 25, 2022. View the primer here.