Superior pushes for control over SWL&P utilities

SUPERIOR, Wis. — Superior Water, Light and Power, owned by Allete, has provided Superior with utilities for the last 135 years. However, Mayor Jim Paine is pushing for a shift to keep costs affordable.

“Right now, people are opening the most expensive water, light, and power bills they have ever received in the history of the city,” said Superior Mayor Jim Paine.

Last year, the city announced its interest in taking over SWL&P electric, water, and natural gas systems.

Paine added, “and that’s because Superior is the only city in the entire state that doesn’t own its own water utility.”

After Superior announced its interest in acquiring SWL&P, the company conducted a third-party study through a group called Concentric Energy.

“The study results show that it would cost approximately $290 million for the city to take over Superior Water, Light and Power,” said Rob Sandstrom, President, Superior Water, Light, and Power.

That $290 million is roughly 10 times the current debt of the city.

“We just want to make sure our customers are educated, grounded in facts, that it is not a simple situation where it’s just a lift and shift,” said Sandstrom.

Mayor Paine says that private utility inflate costs and passes them on to residents.

Paine shared, “the City of Superior owns several utilities, wastewater, storm water, and the landfill. Those rates have never gone up. Two of them have gone down under this administration.”

The public will now decide through a referendum whether to take over the utility, and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will determine the fair price.

Sandstorm says, “we’re interested in partnering with the city and providing solutions together on topics. And I think a great example of the good work we can do together is last year, when we proposed some lead legislation change, and ultimately, we’re able to get $3.2 million for our customers to replace lead service lines.”