Miranda Kleven, PE AE2S Nexus has published the 2017 version of its annual Utility Rate Survey. We would like to thank the 285 participants this year. AE2S Nexus received responses from 130 systems serving populations 5,000 and greater, 107 systems serving populations less than 5,000, and 48 regional rural systems. Survey data was solicited from utilities in Iowa, … Read more
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program received an additional $8 million for credit subsidy in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on May 5, 2017. The additional funding, combined with the $17 million appropriated for credit subsidy at the … Read more
Affordability is a top concern cited by policy makers and utility managers. From a big picture perspective, unaffordable utility rates create two problems: 1) hardship for ratepayers, and 2) inadequate revenues for the utility. This article does not address how or why utility charges may reach a level that is viewed as unaffordable. Rather, it … Read more
Data for the 2016 Annual Utility Rate Survey was solicited from utilities in Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Solid waste, which includes curbside garbage collection and related services, is an important component of city services. Curbside trash collection charges were reported by 112 of the 222 respondents. A summary of the breakdown … Read more
The 16th Annual Utility Rate Survey questionnaire will be sent out to utilities across the upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain region within the next few weeks. AE2S Nexus conducts the annual survey of water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste utility rates. Many utilities find the data in the annual survey to be a useful planning … Read more
No water system is perfect. Somewhere between entry to the distribution system and registry at customer meters, water loss will occur. Some of it is essential for standard operation of the system, as in the case of hydrant flushing. Also expected and allowed is water consumed for firefighting purposes and other City functions such as … Read more