BOLINGBROOK – Following Illinois American Water’s $152 million rate-hike request to the Illinois Commerce Commission, State Senator Rachel Ventura (D-Joliet) released the following statement prior to joining the Citizens Utility Board on Monday evening to urge the ICC to reject the requested rate hike:

“Water is essential to all life. We cannot allow profits to be put over people. I believe water should never be privatized for this reason.

“The ICC has an opportunity to protect Bolingbrook residents’ access to water today – by cutting the increases drastically, getting rid of the QIP surcharge on water bills, and giving these residents a voice. Residents should not have to be burdened with paying “executive bonuses” for the company’s shareholders.

“I will continue to work with my colleagues to protect access to clean, affordable drinking water.”