Rice Lake Utilities

What Rice Lake Utilities does

Rice Lake Utilities is a municipal, vertically integrated utility owned by the City of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, providing electric, water, and wastewater services to the City of Rice Lake and a portion of the Township of Rice Lake. It serves approximately 6,166 electric customers, 4,151 water customers, and 4,096 wastewater customers under a tariff authorized by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission, governed by a five-member Utility Commission. Headquartered at 320 West Coleman Street, Rice Lake, WI, the organization operates three integrated utility divisions: Electric Distribution (75 MW substation capacity, 295+ miles of overhead and underground lines, 7200/12,470 V distribution, dual-fed 4 MW industrial park feeders); Water Distribution (four municipal wells, 900,000 gallons of tower storage across four water towers, 70+ miles of mains); and Wastewater Treatment (2.2 MGD design flow biological facility with fine-bubble diffusers and biogas capture, 78 miles of sanitary sewer, eight lift stations). The utility also owns land hosting a 6.5 MW-AC bifacial tracking solar array (Phase 1: 3.75 MW-AC, August 2021; Phase 2: 2.75 MW-AC, October 2024) operated by OnSite Partners Projectco, LLC under a 30-year PPA.

Name

Rice Lake Utilities

Legal name

Rice Lake Utilities

Website

https://ricelakeutilities.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rice Lake Utilities is a Wisconsin PSC-regulated municipal utility owned by the City of Rice Lake, providing integrated electric, water, and wastewater services to approximately 14,000 customer connections within the city and portions of the surrounding township.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Utilities (Electric, Water, and Wastewater)

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric Services (4911), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Green Tariffs & Utility Renewable Supply Programs (EUAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Municipal electric distribution
• Water utility services
• Wastewater treatment
• Utility rate tariffs
• Renewable power supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Rice Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Electric Service Revenue: Rice Lake Utilities generates revenue through electricity distribution fees charged to over 6,166 customers in the City of Rice Lake and a portion of the Township of Rice Lake. Rates are subject to a Power Cost Adjustment Clause (PCAC) and are authorized by the Wisconsin Public Service Commission. Revenue is driven by consumption across residential, commercial, and industrial rate classes, including Time-of-Use options.
2. Water Service Revenue: The water utility serves 4,151 customers with a tiered volume-based rate structure. Water rates have been in effect since May 1, 2022, with volume charges ranging from $2.50 per 1,000 gallons for the first 16,000 gallons down to $1.37 per 1,000 gallons for usage over 250,000 gallons, plus a flat monthly service charge.
3. Wastewater/Sewer Service Revenue: The wastewater utility serves 4,096 customers with sewer rates of $3.08 per 1,000 gallons (effective since January 1, 2010), plus a flat monthly service charge. Customers outside city limits pay 140% of city rates. The utility has among the lowest sewer rates in Wisconsin.
4. Connection and Service Fees: Revenue is generated through various customer forms and fees including new construction electric service requests, water service connection requests, private fire protection connections, bulk water sales, and distributed generation application fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rice Lake Utilities is a municipally owned utility providing regulated electric distribution, water supply, and wastewater treatment services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers within the City of Rice Lake and a portion of the Township of Rice Lake, Wisconsin. The utility operates a 7200/12,470-volt electric distribution system, four municipal water wells with 900,000 gallons of tower storage, and a biological wastewater treatment facility with biogas capture, supplemented by a 6.5 MW solar array and a Lakeswind wind offtake for renewable supply.

Product overview

Rice Lake Utilities is a municipal utility providing integrated electric, water, and wastewater services to the City of Rice Lake and surrounding areas. The organization operates three core utility divisions: Electric Distribution (serving 6,166 customers with 75 MW substation capacity), Water Distribution (serving 4,151 customers with 900,000-gallon storage capacity), and Wastewater Treatment (serving 4,096 customers with 2.2 MGD design flow). Power supply is sourced through American Electric Power Partners with Lakeswind wind participation. A 6.5 MW-AC solar array (Phases 1 and 2 completed in 2021 and 2024) supplements renewable energy. Additional services include rate tariff programs, budget payment plans, lead service line replacement financing, customer forms, distributed generation interconnection, and bill assistance programs. The utility is governed by a five-member Rice Lake Utilities Commission under Wisconsin Public Service Commission tariff authorization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Electric Distribution Services Regulated electric distribution service delivering power over a 7200/12,470-volt system with substation capacity up to 80 MW and more than 295 miles of overhead and underground lines to residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers within the City of Rice Lake and a portion of the Township of Rice Lake.
• Water Distribution Services Municipal water pumping and distribution service drawing from four municipal wells with combined tower storage capacity of 900,000 gallons, distributing through 70+ miles of water mains to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Rice Lake.
• Wastewater Treatment Services Municipal wastewater collection and biological treatment service operating a 2.2 MGD design flow capacity plant with fine-bubble diffuser aeration, biogas capture for plant heating, 78 miles of sanitary sewer collection mains, and 8 lift stations, serving residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the City of Rice Lake.
• Rice Lake Solar Array (Phase 1 & Phase 2) 6.5 MW-AC photovoltaic solar generation array comprising two phases of bifacial tracking solar panels on a 58.5-acre site, built, owned, and operated by OnSite Partners Projectco, LLC on land owned by Rice Lake Utilities; output is purchased by the utility under a 30-year Power Purchase Agreement to supply renewable energy.
• Electric, Water, and Sewer Rate Tariffs Commission-authorized rate schedules covering residential electric (RG-1, RG-2), commercial electric (GS-1, GS-2), small power (CP-1, CP-1 TOD), large power (CP-2), industrial power (CP-3), private generation (PGS-1, PGS-2), and street lighting classes, plus tiered water rates and sewer rates subject to the Power Cost Adjustment Clause.
• Wholesale Power Supply (AEP / Great Lakes Utilities — Lakeswind Wind Offtake) Wholesale electric supply portfolio sourced through American Electric Power Partners (contract locked until 2030) and via joint-action membership in Great Lakes Utilities, with a 20-year fixed-price offtake from the Lakeswind wind facility supplying approximately 30,000 MWh per year (about 19% of total power supply) and equivalent to 25% of renewable portfolio standards.
• Budget Payment Plan (Budget Billing) Free residential payment plan that averages the prior 12 months of actual bill charges into predictable equal monthly payments, reassessed twice yearly, to help customers smooth seasonal usage swings.
• Lead Service Line Replacement Program Financing program authorized by City of Rice Lake Ordinance No. 26-01 facilitating low-interest loans (5-year, 2%) to property owners to replace private lead water service lines, stacked with a 75% Wisconsin DNR grant of up to $3,750 and repaid via special charges on the property tax bill.
• Distributed Generation Interconnection Program Interconnection program enabling customers to install and connect customer-owned solar photovoltaic, wind, energy storage, and generator systems to the Rice Lake distribution grid, supported by interconnection application forms and technology-specific supplements.
• Bill Assistance and Community Support Programs Deferred payment arrangements, medical-condition certification, and referrals to community assistance resources including Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund, Heat for Heroes, St. Vincent de Paul, ACEO, and Salvation Army.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platinum RP3 designation from the American Public Power Association, recognizing high proficiency in reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• OnSite Partners Projectco, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnSite Partners Projectco, LLC built, owns, and operates the 6.5 MW-AC Rice Lake Solar Array on land owned by Rice Lake Utilities. The utility purchases power from this array under a 30-year PPA. Phase 1 (3.75 MW-AC, August 2021) and Phase 2 (2.75 MW-AC, October 2024) were developed by this partner. The total investment was approximately $11 million.
• American Electric Power (AEP) PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRice Lake's wholesale power supply is sourced through American Electric Power Partners, with the contract flat and locked in until 2030. In 2021, Rice Lake Utilities partnered with AEP to build the 3.75 MW Phase 1 solar field. AEP OnSite Partners (a subsidiary) also built, owns, and operates the solar array.
• Great Lakes Utilities (Lakeswind)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRice Lake Utilities is a member of Great Lakes Utilities and participates in joint action membership. The utility is an offtaker of the Lakeswind Project in Rollag, Minnesota, providing a 20-year fixed price on a wind resource equal to 25% of renewable portfolio standards. Rice Lake purchases 18.9% of the energy produced by the Lakeswind wind farm, roughly 30,000 MWh per year.
• SEH (Consulting Engineer)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSEH serves as the city's consulting engineer for utility and street improvement projects, including water projects such as the Wisconsin/Phipps Avenue improvements from Allen Street to Messenger Street.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Marshfield Utilities: Wisconsin municipal utility providing electric, water, and wastewater services to Marshfield with similar community ownership structure. Highly comparable in size, regulatory environment, and triple-utility model — useful benchmark for operational and financial comparisons.
• River Falls Municipal Utilities: Wisconsin municipal utility offering electric, water, and wastewater services under local utility commission governance. Comparable in scale, customer count profile, and Wisconsin PSC regulatory framework.
• Sun Prairie Utilities: Wisconsin municipal utility providing electric and water service under similar commission governance. Comparable in customer mix and growth profile as a Madison-adjacent community.
• Stoughton Utilities: Wisconsin municipal utility with electric, water, and wastewater operations serving a similar-sized community. Provides direct comparison for rate structures, capital planning, and small-city utility economics.
• Wisconsin Rapids Water Works & Lighting Commission: Wisconsin municipal utility providing electric, water, and wastewater services under a utility commission governance model. Similar capital intensity and customer profile to Rice Lake.
• Waunakee Utilities: Wisconsin municipal utility offering electric, water, and wastewater services to a similar mid-size community. Closely comparable governance, regulatory environment, and triple-utility structure.

Others

• Great Lakes Utilities (GLU): Joint action agency of which Rice Lake is a member, providing joint power supply procurement and renewable offtake including the Lakeswind wind project. A direct partner rather than competitor, but highly relevant for understanding Rice Lake's wholesale cost structure.
• American Public Power Association (APPA): National trade association for state and community-owned public power utilities. Administers the RP3 designation program that has recognized Rice Lake at the Platinum and Diamond levels. Not a competitor but sets operational standards and benchmarking used by Rice Lake.
• OnSite Partners (AEP subsidiary): Subsidiary of American Electric Power that built, owns, and operates Rice Lake's 6.5 MW solar array under a 30-year PPA. A core operational partner rather than peer, but relevant for understanding Rice Lake's renewable procurement model and replication potential.

Regional players

• WPPI Energy: Wisconsin-based joint action agency providing wholesale power supply and energy services to municipal utilities across the state. Comparable in customer profile (other Wisconsin municipal utilities) and energy supply structure, though serves as a wholesale partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RICELAKEUTILITIES
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rice-lake-utilities-dept

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake Utilities