PSC > Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement

Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement

Overview

The Commission recognizes the important work of utilities across Wisconsin to remove Lead from their water systems. This page provides PSC Annual Report summary data on the presence of lead service lines (LSL) throughout the state, information on the limited use of regulated customer revenues for the removal of private-side LSLs, and general resources for LSL replacement.

For more information or questions, please contact Angela James at Angela.James@wisconsin.gov or (608) 267-8990.

Wisconsin Lead Service Line Data

The link below provides an Excel spreadsheet summarizing the total number of utility-side and private-side LSLs for all regulated public water utilities in Wisconsin. The data is from the 2023 PSC Annual Reports.

2023 Number of Service Lines by Material Type for Wisconsin Water Utilities

Using Customer Rates for Private-side LSL Removal

The question of using customer rates for the removal of private-side LSLs is a complicated one. In most communities, this infrastructure is owned by the property owner and remediation is considered the customer's financial responsibility. However, many communities are investigating opportunities to use regulated customer revenues to help mitigate these private-side costs. The following information is offered to help communities understand past decisions made by the PSC. As communities assemble financing packages to address the removal of LSLs in their communities, they should be mindful of how different funding mechanisms may interact with PSC jurisdiction and approvals. Please contact the PSC with any questions specific to your community, but generally:

Replacement of most utility-owned infrastructure containing lead, including mains, goosenecks, and service lines, generally does not require approval from the Commission.
Activities conducted by municipalities outside of the utility, without using regulated customer revenues, generally do not require approval from the Commission.
Utilities may set up a program to provide financial assistance to help customers replace customer-side LSLs. This utility financial assistance program requires Commission approval prior to commencing. See Wis. Stats. §§ 196.37, 196.372, and 196.20 (8).
There may be limitations on the use of customer rates used to pay for private-side LSLs.
It is always good practice to reach out to the Commission with any questions you may have.

Filing Requirements to Establish a Utility Financial Assistance Program

Utilities interested in providing financial assistance to customers who replace customer-side LSLs must:

Provide the information described in the LSL Application Filing Requirements. The document includes sample tariffs.
Upload the completed application and related documents (PDF format) to the PSC Electronic Records Filing (ERF) System using the utility's PSC identification number.

Additional PSC Information on LSL Removal

As financing programs evolve at the state and federal level, the PSC is working to develop and update materials to assist communities. The following resources provide further information about the Commission's perspective on customer rates for private-side LSL removals: