Tennessee TPUC Commission Approves Limestone Water Utility Rate Increase sent
Dear Neighbor,
Please share this information with your fellow neighbors.
This week, April 14th, TPUC (Tennessee Public Utility Commission) deliberated a petitioned by Limestone Water Utility for users in TN. Limestone owns 10 systems in Tennessee (since 2021) including 4 in Williamson County. Of the 10 systems, 2 are water utilities and 8 are sewer utilities. Overall Limestone serves approx. 2500 customers with 500 served in the Grassland Village area.
In District 8, Grassland area users will be affected starting in May. Those affected in Grassland include River Rest subdivision, Hunterwood subdivision, commercial users at the heart of Grassland Village and other individual home owners in the Grassland surrounding area currently receiving sewer service from the plant previously named Cartwright Creek.
Limestone purchased Cartwright Creek and 3 other plants in Williamson County approximately 4 years ago with Cartwright Creek being in the worse condition. Cartwright Creek has expended its expected service life and is in need of a total replacement. Residents of River Rest have experienced numerous overflow and leakage events especially during heavy rainfalls when storm water leaks into the compromised system.
Limestone Water Utility sought a rate increase of $2.26 million to implement needed infrastructure costs as well as regular increase in operating costs. Alternatively, after careful and thorough consideration, the Commission voted to authorize a $1.36 million increase in rates to be implemented in two phases. These numbers are for all 10 Limestone systems in TN.
Phase I will likely commence as soon as next month, May 2025. Phase II would then commence in May 2026. Each phase represents approximately 50% of the total increase. A 20-40% increase in rates is expected, see below. I have been told it has been several years since the last rate increase for sewer in the Grassland area. 2017?
Below are the published individual rates for Phase I. Phase II rates will be determined next spring of 2026.
More information can be obtained at the TPUC website HERE.
Click on the gold banner at the top of the TPUC website to go straight to the rate increase information for Docket # 24-000-44 which is for Limestone.
I would like to thank Mr. Glen Perry and Ms. Sara Campbell for making me aware of the recent rate change petition by Limestone. I encourage every resident to contact me whenever they have pressing issues that affect our community and give me an opportunity to help in whatever way possible.
Our next County Commission meeting will be in May where we will discuss Williamson County going from a four year appraisal cycle to a 3 year appraisal cycle.
County Commission meetings are normally held at the Administrative complex at 1320 West Main St., Franklin in the auditorium (East end of bldg) @ 6 PM and generally on the 2nd Mon. of the month. Meeting agendas are available HERE. There is no meeting in December, April, or August. July’s meeting is when the tax rate and budget for the upcoming year are approved.
Anyone interested in getting a better understanding of our county resolutions can come to the Budget Committee meetings held on 1st Mondays @ 4:30 pm in the Conference Room across from the County Mayors’ office. In this committee, any resolution with a fiscal consequence is discussed one week prior to being voted on by the Commission as a whole. All Committee meetings are open to the public.
All your feedback is welcome.
Best Regards,
Barb Sturgeon
Williamson County Commissioner
District 8
