MARSHALL — Marshall Municipal Utilities is looking at raising electric and water rates for customers starting next year. The recommended rate increases will be the focus of a public hearing Wednesday.

The hearing will start at 4:30 p.m., in the board and meeting room at MMU’s office on South Fourth Street. MMU General Manager Pete Wyffels said local residents with questions about the rate increases are encouraged to attend.

According to an overview in MMU’s seasonal newsletter to customers, the utility is looking at an overall electric rate increase of 10.5% for 2026, and water rate increases of 5% each year for the next three years. The recommended rate increases come from a study conducted by Missouri River Energy Services (MRES) for MMU. MMU studies its utility rates every three years.

MMU said about 7.5% of the overall 10.5% electric rate increase was because of cost increases for power supply and transmission, that MMU doesn’t have control over. The remaining 3% of the increase would be for MMU’s operational costs. No electric rate increases are anticipated for 2027 and 2028, MMU said.

The 5% water rate increases each year for 2026-2028 are due to inflation of operating costs, and capital costs like replacing water mains, MMU said. The proposed rate increases would help cover rising costs while maintaining cash reserves for future needs, MMU said.

MMU said the proposed rate increases would affect all classes of water and electric customers in Marshall, including residential, commercial and industrial customers. While the cost impact of the rate increases would vary depending on the customer, MMU estimated that an average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of energy and 4,000 gallons of water a month would see an $11 increase to their electric bill and an increase of $2.50 to their water bill in 2026.

Wyffels said part of Wednesday’s hearing will include an informational presentation. A representative of MRES would also be present to help answer people’s questions, he said.