Water and Sanitary Sewer Rate Increase

On November 25, 2025 Village Board Meeting the Village of Ashwaubenon “Ashwaubenon”, Village Board reviewed and discussed current and future Utility Rates in great detail. Previous to this meeting, the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (NEW Water) presented their approved rate increases to Ashwaubenon which will impact the Sewer Utility. Also, Village Staff presented a long-range Capital Improvement Plan which has considerable Utility replacements starting in 2027.

Ashwaubenon purchases drinking water from the Green Bay Utility Water. Effective March 18, 2025, Ashwaubenon adjusted its water rates through a Purchased Water Adjustment Clause (PWAC). This PWAC allows Ashwaubenon to directly pass on the 17% increase from the Green Bay Water Utility to the utility users in Ashwaubenon. In an effort to stay fiscally responsible and prepare for future maintenance and replacement projects, Ashwaubenon is working with the Public Service Commission (PSC), regulating agency for the Water Utility, in applying for a Simplified Rate Case in early 2026. The effective date of this increase is unknown but is anticipated to occur in the middle of 2026.

Ashwaubenon sends its wastewater (sewage) to Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District (NEW Water). Effective January 1, 2026, NEW Water will increase their operational rates by 6.6% and Capital Improvement Charges by 43%, these rates are then passed on to Ashwaubenon. Ashwaubenon in an effort to stay fiscally responsible and ensure that operating expenses do not exceed revenues that are generated, had to look at its rates in greater detail. Ashwaubenon will be increasing its rates by 20% to adjust for NEW Water charges and upcoming Capital Improvement Project costs. The effective date of this increase is January 1, 2026. An example of how your utility bill will be impacted can be seen below.

A standard utility bill from the Village of Ashwaubenon has three sections, a water utility cost, a sewer utility cost, and a storm water utility cost. Added together, these three costs in total are your utility bill. As such, a certain percentage increase in one of the three utility rates does not correspond to that percentage increase over your entire bill.

Let’s take a look at an example of a residential utility bill in the Village of Ashwaubenon with the current utility rates and the proposed utility following January 1, 2026.

Changes in the bill are colored red

Under the proposed utility rate increases, a total utility bill for one quarter (3 months) would include: 

• 5/8" water meter charge of $24.81 (likely will increase mid-2026)
• 5/8" sewer service charge of $24.84
• Public Fire Protection change of $9.69 (likely will increase mid-2026)
• A water volume charge of 15,000 gallons at $5.13/1,000 gallons = $76.95 (likely will increase mid-2026)
• A sewer volume charge of 15,000 gallons at $7.94/1,000 gallons = $119.10
• A storm utility charge of $20.63 (with 1.0 ERU)
  
  Proposed Total Bill: $280.02

According to the new rate structure, the quarterly bill for the average residential customer served by the Village Utilities (using approximately 15,000 gallons per quarter) will increase by $24.61 after the initial phase of implementation.

Current Bill Example

New Bill Example

Water Volume Charge - Effective March 18, 2025
First 100,000 gallons used  each quarter - $5.13 Per 1,000 gallons
Next 300,000 gallons used each quarter - $4.98 Per 1,000 gallons
Over 400,000 gallons used each quarter - $4.88 Per 1,000 gallons

Sewer Volume Charge - Effective January 1, 2026
Non-Restaurant Rate - $7.94 per 1,000 gallons
Restaurant Rate - $9.10 per 1,000 gallons

Storm Water Rate per ERU (Equivalent Runoff Unit) - Effective January 1, 2026
$20.63 per ERU/USAGE per Quarter

Town of Lawrence Sewer Rates - Effective January 1, 2024
Volume Charge - $5.11 per 1,000 gallons
Customer Charge - $71.85