City of Ellsworth Water Department Public Notice
The City of Ellsworth Water Department will be filing a revised rate schedule with the Maine Public Utilities
Commission, to be effective in two steps with the first step being effective July 1, 2026, and the second step effective
July 1, 2027. The filing is made under provisions of 35-A-M.R.S.A. Section 6104. The rate filing docket number is
2026-00015.
Present rates were effective October 1, 2024, and a 1.5% increase is effective on bills sent after March 1, 2026.
Additional rate increases are needed because operating and infrastructure expenses continue to rise, and new debt
service costs will be incurred by the Department for the Surry Road water main replacement project and Clearwater
Way water treatment plant project. To continue properly maintaining its water system and paying its debt service
obligations, the Department is proposing an overall revenue increase of $248,000 as shown below:
Ellsworth Water Department Rate Increases
| Step 1 Amount | Step 1 Percent | Step 2 Amount | Step 2 Percent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | $ 28,500 | 5% | $ 12,300 | 2% |
| Commercial | $ 32,000 | 5% | $ 13,800 | 2% |
| Industrial | $ 300 | 5% | $ 100 | 2% |
| Public Authorities | $ 4,200 | 5% | $ 1,800 | 2% |
| Public Fire Protection | $ 50,000 | 11% | $ 95,000 | 18% |
| Private Fire Protection | $ 7,000 | 5% | $3,000 | 2% |
| Total $ 122,000 | 7% | Total $126,000 | 7% |
Public Utilities Commission Chapter 69 governs the public fire protection increase. In accordance with Chapter 69,
the public fire protection revenue is set at 30% of total operating revenue.
A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the City of Ellsworth Council
Chambers located at 1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, Maine, at which time complete details will be furnished in
support of the increase.
You may inspect data relating to the present and proposed rates at the Ellsworth City Hall, located at 1 City Hall
Plaza, before the hearing. If you have any questions or desire additional information, you may contact the City of
Ellsworth Water Department office at (207)-667-8632. You have the right to an open and fair hearing and the right
to further hearings before the Commission. The Public Advocate is available to assist you in this matter upon
request. The Public Utilities Commission may be contacted at (207)-287-3831, 18 State House Station, Augusta,
ME 04333, or the Public Advocate at (207)-624-3687, 112 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333.
If, within 30 days of the public hearing, 15% of the customers of the Department file with the Department and the
Commission petitions demanding a review of the rate changes by the Commission, the rate change may be
suspended, investigated, reviewed, and changed in accordance with Section 310. Signatures on the petition are
invalid unless accompanied by the printed names and address of the signers. Upon request the Department will
provide customers with the appropriate petition forms.