This week Citizens Energy Group and the City of Indianapolis completed the controversial $1.9 billion transfer of local water and wastewater utilities to Citizens
The water and wastewater systems, which bill customers under the Indianapolis Water name, are now being operated as Citizens Water.
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard called the transfer, which was approved by the Indianapolis City-County last year, a great move.
“This historic transfer will make Indianapolis a better place to live and do business by making our rivers and streams cleaner, bringing more consistency to these vital utilities, and saving utility customers money through rates that will be lower than they otherwise would have been,” Ballard said. “This transfer will benefit our community for generations.”
In March 2010, Ballard and Citizens announced the plan to transfer the systems to Citizens.
Supporters say the transfer is expected to result in $60 million in annual savings that will help Citizens reduce projected water and wastewater rate increases 25 percent by the year 2025.
The City will receive $425 million from the transfer to fund its Rebuild Indy initiative that is making much needed repairs to parks, bridges, streets, and sidewalks, while removing hundreds of abandoned homes throughout the city.
Citizens is a public charitable trust that operates like a not-for-profit.
Carey Lykins, President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group, welcomed water and wastewater customers to the Citizens family of companies. “Citizens employees are so excited about this wonderful opportunity to expand on the purpose of the public charitable trust to add value and improve the quality of life in our community,” Lykens said.
Citizens Water will assume responsibility for the Long Term Control Plan, which is mandated under a Consent Decree with the U.S. EPA to minimize combined sewer overflows into the White River and other area streams. The plan calls for completion of a $3.5 billion Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project by the year 2025. Remaining CSO construction costs are estimated at $1.7 billion.
Customers with a current Indianapolis Water bill should pay that bill. Their next bill will read Citizens Water.
• Citizens Water — For water, sewer and flooding/drainage issues call: 631-1431. Due to the switch over of computer systems, the Citizens Water Call Center will only be accepting emergency calls today and tomorrow. Full call center operations will resume by noon on Monday, Aug. 29.
• Citizens Gas – For natural gas service issues call: 924-3311.
