Water FAQs for Consumers

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Conservation and Rebates
Rates, Billing and Sewer

Conservation and Rebates

How​​ ca​​n I conserve water?

P​rotecting Wisconsin’s precious water resources begins with you!

Everyone can do their part to conserve water.​Here are some simple steps you can take at home or at work:

  • Monitor your water bill for unusually high use to discover leaksFix leaky faucets, showers and toilets or replace with WaterSense labeled models
  • Don’t let the water run while brushing your teeth
  • Only wash full loads of laundry and dishes
  • Reduce or eliminate watering of lawns and landscaping
  • Use rain barrels to collect rainwater for outdoor plants
  • Spruce Up Your Sprinkler System - a short video

For more information about saving water around the home, including a home water use calculator, visit the Home Water Works website, sponsored by the Alliance for Water Efficiency.

​Toilet Rebates and Other Incentives

​You can save hundreds of gallons each year by replacing leaking or outdated toilets.  Many Wisconsin water utilities offer rebates or other incentives to customers who install WaterSense-labeled toilets, faucets, showerheads, and other products.  Some utilities also offer low-cost or free rain barrels for their customers.  Contact your local water utility and ask whether they have a water conservation program and whether you may be eligible to receive assistance. 

How much water (and money) can YOU save?

Additional water saving tips and information:

Each Wisconsin water utility is required to implement basic water conservation and efficiency measures, including metering all water sales, conducting routine meter testing, monitoring losses and leaks in the distribution system, and collecting and reporting water audit information to the PSC. These requirements can be found in Wis. Admin. Code ch.185.

Water utilities often provide additional leadership and funding for community conservation efforts, which can include demand-side measures such as water fixture rebates, incentive programs, education and outreach, customer water audits, restrictions on lawn watering, and water rates that encourage water efficient behavior. Water conservation programs also include supply side measures such as non-revenue water control. Successful water conservation programs combine both demand-side and supply-side efforts and are integrated into utilities and planning for future supply sources. Because each utility is unique, there is no single approach to water conservation that is appropriate for all.

Utilities with Conservation Rates for Residential Customers

Utilities with Rebate Programs

Drinking water utilities that use ratepayer dollars to pay for rebate and incentive and other conservation programs are required to report their activities each year on page W-27 of their annual financial report​.

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Rates, Billing and Sewer

Where can I find my water rates?

Every Wisconsin water utility is required to keep its rates and rules (tariffs) on file and available to its customers. In addition, customers can view utility tariffs on the PSC website:Water Utility Tariffs

Customers can use the following tools to compare billing between multiple utilities:

This short video explains what's in a typical water customer's bill and how that bill helps pay for the costs of delivering consistent, reliable, and safe water from source to tap.

​What if my water utility asks for a deposit?

Residential Customers

A utility may ask a new residential customer to post a deposit if they owe an undisputed bill for any utility service incurred in Wisconsin within the last six years.

A utility may ask a current residential customer to post a deposit if:

  • Customer’s service was shut off during the last 12 months.
  • Customer falsified a service application.

Residential deposits are returned with interest after 12 consecutive months of prompt payment.

The utility may accept, in lieu of a residential cash deposit, a contract signed by a guarantor satisfactory to the utility. The contract guarantees a specified sum not exceeding the amount of the cash deposit or guarantees payment of all future bills.

Commercial Customers

A utility may ask a new commercial customer to post a deposit if the applicant's credit hasn't been established to the utility's satisfaction.

A utility may ask a current commercial customer to post a deposit if:

  • Customer has not made prompt payment of all utility bills in the last 24 months.
  • Customer’s service was shut off during the last 12 months.
  • Customer falsified a service application.

Commercial deposits are returned with interest after 24 consecutive months of prompt payment.

The utility may accept, in lieu of a commercial cash deposit, a contract signed by a guarantor satisfactory to the utility. The contract guarantees a specified not exceeding the amount of the cash deposit.

**A customer does not have to post a deposit if their income is below 200 percent of the federal poverty level guidelines.**

Does the PSC regulate sewer utilities?

While all Wisconsin water utilities are regulated, sewer utility regulation is a voluntary decision on the part of the municipality. Investor-owned sewer utilities would be regulated, but none currently exist. Municipal sewerage systems (sanitary as well as storm water) do not fall within the definition of “public utility” under Wisconsin Statute § 196.01(5) and therefore do not require PSC approval when setting rates and rules. 

Although the PSC does not regulate any sewer systems, it has limited authority over municipal sanitary sewer issues. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 66.0821(5)(a), any user of a sewer system may file a complaint with the Commission concerning the rates, rules, or practices of the municipality. Upon receiving a complaint, the PSC reviews the re​asonableness of the municipalitys rates, rules, and practices. As these operations are not public utilities fully regulated by the PSC, it is the responsibility of the complainant to de​velop the basis for complaint. Generally, individual, informal complaints are reviewed by PSC staff, whereas more formal or legal questions are set for hearing, with parties developing a record in support of their individual positions. The Commission decides the issues based on the merits of the hearing record.​

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