Walker calls on Barrett to stop water rate hike (Business Journal of Milwaukee)

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Milwaukee County Executive and 2010 GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker sent a letter to Milwaukee Mayor and Democratic candidate for governor Tom Barrett to pull the plug on the proposed water hike for residential and commercial customers.

Most customers face price increases of 30 percent in the rate schedule proposed by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission May 13, but some suburbs are looking at more than 50 percent increases.

Milwaukee Water Works' largest customer, MillerCoors LLC, has filed testimony saying a high rate increase would "make the Milwaukee brewery less competitive as compared to other, new MillerCoors breweries in other states," and may result in moving production and jobs outside the state.

In his letter, Walker told Barrett "it is very troubling that the Milwaukee utility would push such a steep rate increase on residential users. It seems like you are pushing the big increase to balance the city's budget."

In a reply to Walker, Barrett said that after he learned about the PSC's proposed rates, which he said went beyond what Milwaukee Water Works had proposed, he went to work to ensure critical Wisconsin employers like MillerCoors would not be adversely affected by the PSC decision.

"I also worked to secure a tax credit that, when combined with the revised rate structure I fought for, will keep MillerCoors water-related production costs competitive for years to come," wrote Barrett.

http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/10/daily66.html