The Illinois Commerce Commission will conduct a series of public hearings on Illinois American Water Company's proposal to increase annual revenue by about $61 million.

Those who attend the public hearings will be able to offer comments and a stenographic record of the comments will be recorded. The meetings will begin at 7 p.m. as follows:

• Thursday, Oct. 1, Room D244, 2nd floor, Building D, Parkland Community College, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign.
• Thursday, Oct. 8, Mount Prospect City Council chambers, 50 S. Emerson Ave., Mount Prospect.
• Monday, Oct. 19, Homer Glen Junior High School, 15711 S. Bell Road, Homer Glen.

Illinois American Water serves approximately 317,000 customers stretching from South Beloit and the Chicago suburbs through central and southern Illinois, including Streator. The rate increases proposed have been suspended from taking effect pending a thorough review. Those rates, if approved as filed, are intended to generate additional revenue of approximately $1.9 million from the Pekin District, $45 million from the Pontiac, South Beloit, Peoria, Champaign, Streator, Sterling, Alton, Cairo and Interurban districts, which comprise Zone 1, $1.1 million from the Lincoln District and $10.2 million in water revenue and $2.8 million in sewer revenue from the Chicago Metro District.

A final decision from the Commission is expected by Sunday, April 25.

Comments from each public hearing will be submitted to the Commission for consideration. Illinois American Water customers who would like to offer written comments can submit them through the "File a Comment" option on the ICC Web site, www.icc.illinois.gov/consumer, or by calling 800-524-0795.