Citizens Details $100M Water Plan

(Image courtesy of Citizens Energy Group)

Citizens Energy Group has unveiled details of a $100 million plan to improve its water system in central Indiana. Last month, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approved a monthly rate hike of about $5 for an average customer to fund the infrastructure work.

The utility says the work will include approximately 50 new water mains and new equipment at its 10 water treatment plants. Citizens will also continue to develop plans for its first new reservoir in central Indiana in nearly 50 years. Other planned work involves reservoir dredging, new water intake and well rehabilitation.

Citizens says it has invested around $230 million into system improvements since acquiring the water system serving the nine-county Indianapolis area in 2011.

Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Harrison says the utility must "continue investments that ensure the Indianapolis has the water it will need for a growing population and economy." He says, while he knows customers "are concerned about the recent rate increase that was necessary to make these investments," the upgrades will result in a more reliable and sustainable water utility.