Number
100056
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
091138
Sponsor
Ald. Bauman
Title
Resolution directing the Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent to provide rebuttal testimony to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin relative to the Proposed Economic Development Water Rate for Milwaukee Water Works.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent to provide rebuttal testimony to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin due on May 14, 2010, requesting modifications to the Proposed Economic Development Water Rate for Milwaukee Water Works. This proposed rate was developed by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin in response to the Milwaukee Water Works’ WAVE rate application offering discounted water rates to existing customers significantly increasing their water use and expanding their workforce, and as an incentive for water-intensive businesses to locate in the City of Milwaukee and create “living wage” jobs.
Body
Whereas, The Common Council adopted resolution file #091138 on January 20, 2010, directing the Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent to petition the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (“PSCW”) to establish a discounted water rate, known as the WAVE (“Water Attracting Valued Employers”) rate, as an incentive for water-intensive businesses to expand or locate to the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent did duly petition and apply to the PSCW, and the PSCW has proposed a rate structure that differs in some ways from the WAVE concept requested by the Milwaukee Water Works including, among other things, the elimination of the workforce expansion criteria for existing customers and the job creation criteria for new customers; and
Whereas, While with the exception of the removal of the job creation criteria, overall the proposed rate provides a structure that includes the characteristics desired by the Common Council and Mayor, some of the terms of the Proposed Economic Development Rate could be modified to improve the availability of the rate to existing and potential large industrial customers; and
Whereas, The PSCW, in the Direct Testimony of Andrew Behm filed April 23, 1010, explained that the job creation criterion was not included in the rate because “it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to authenticate job creation” and that “job verification would be too onerous for the Milwaukee Water Works” failed to consider that the Milwaukee Department of City Development routinely monitors job creation and retention for businesses in the City and could provide job verification and monitoring to the Milwaukee Water Works without undue effort or cost; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee Water Works recommends providing rebuttal testimony for the consideration of the PSCW, modifying the PSCW’s Proposed Economic Development Rate (the WAVE rate), particularly the elimination of the job creation criteria, but to other proposed changes as set forth in Exhibit 1 attached to this resolution, to ensure the Milwaukee Water Works is granted a WAVE rate structure that most closely meets the City’s goals; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of The City of Milwaukee, that the Milwaukee Water Works Superintendent is directed to provide rebuttal testimony to the Public Service Commission on or before May 14, 2010, to present for the consideration of the PSCW, changes to the Proposed Economic Development Water Rate for Milwaukee Water Works as presented by the Public Service Commission as set forth in Exhibit 1 which is attached to this resolution.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB 10177-1
ANC
04/29/10