In February 2024, The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) approved statewide base rate adjustments for Indiana American Water. The decision was made after 11 months of thorough review and based on the company’s roughly $875 million investments into water and wastewater programs, infrastructure, and services since our last increase request in September 2018.
At Indiana American Water, we understand that changes in your monthly utility bills can be confusing, frustrating, and financially straining in some situations. We don’t want that to be your experience with your water bill.
That’s why we’ve worked hard to streamline your bill, offer an automated payment system for online payments, and provide information and education like this comprehensive blog to keep you informed about how to make payments. Your paper bill or digital bill includes educational information, payment options, meter readings, and a full breakdown of your charges for the best chance of clarity and transparency.
Keep reading to learn more about how to navigate the recently redesigned rates as well as how to understand your water bill.
How Do Water Utility Rate Increases Affect Me?
Water utility rate increases can impact you financially by raising the cost of your water bill. At Indiana American Water, we understand the serious challenges and frustrations customers face when water rates go up. That’s why we don’t take increases lightly.
This recent increase will help cover rising expenses associated with maintaining and upgrading water infrastructure, ensuring reliable service, and meeting regulatory requirements. The IURC order includes an adjustment of $66.3 million to specifically address increased investments and expenses of our water and wastewater operations.
To help customers transition, we’ve also made sure the rate increase won’t happen overnight but will be rolled out in a 3-phase process ending in May 2025. You can find more information about specific increases on your bill on our water rates webpage. Increases will depend on location and revisions of tariffs which have yet to be finalized.
In addition to these changes, the order also approved 1,500 gallons of water usage at no extra charge above the fixed monthly customer rate for all customers. This helps us continue to provide low-cost basic water service for customers with fixed incomes who don’t overuse water.
How to Save Money on My Water Bill
Saving money on your water bill is still possible. If you want to keep your bill within your budget, there are a few simple adjustments you can make when using water at home, including:
- Fix Leaks: Repair any leaks in faucets, toilets, or pipes promptly to prevent water waste.
- Install Water-Saving Fixtures: Install low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and efficient toilets to reduce water usage without sacrificing performance.
- Limit Outdoor Water Usage: Water your lawn and garden during cooler hours to minimize evaporation, and consider using drought-resistant plants to reduce outdoor water needs.
- Take Shorter Showers: Cutting down shower time can significantly decrease water usage and save money on your bill.
- Collect Rainwater: Use rain barrels to collect rainwater for outdoor watering, reducing the need to use tap water.
Our website, the71percent.org, has plenty of water resources and conservation information to help you save cash and help the environment by using less water in your Indiana home.
Understanding Your New Water Bill
The simplified front page of your paper water bill shows the most crucial information, including the amount due for that particular billing period, the due date, your overall balance, and account messages. It also provides contact information for our customer service center, a pay-by-phone option, and a link to our website where you can view your account information, pay your bill online, or sign up for an automatic payment.
The second page of your water bill contains messages that pertain to your account or area as well as additional information about services offered and explanations for other terms related to your service with us. You’ll also learn how you can go paperless, request water-quality reports, or inquire about current rates.
The third page allows you to dig a little deeper when it comes to the different components of your bill and see how your water bill is calculated by providing a water meter reading and usage summary. There’s also a water usage graph that shows how much water you’re using each month and how it compares to the prior year based on meter readings.
If your bill is surprisingly higher compared to last month, it could indicate the presence of a leak in your home, or perhaps you’re watering your yard too frequently.
Check out our billing webpage for convenient access to make an online payment, pay by money order, pay by mail, or in-person or by phone. We also have resources and an application form to help customers sign up for paperless billing or our low-income billing programs.
Contact Customer Service at Indiana American Water
At Indiana American Water, we’re always looking for ways to make life easier for our customers. To learn more about your water bill, don’t hesitate to contact us to speak to a customer service representative. If you need help making payments during regular business hours or after-hours, Indiana American Water has resources for you.
We also offer additional education and awareness resources on our blog website, the71percent.org. Here, you can find helpful blogs about water utilities and how we work hard to serve our customers in new and better ways every day.