Rate Survey: 2017 Solid Waste Rates

Data for the 2017 Annual Utility Rate Survey was solicited from utilities in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Solid waste (curbside garbage collection and related services) is an important component of City Services. Curbside trash collection charges were reported by 126 of the 285 respondents, approximately 44 percent of … Read more

2017 Utility Rate Survey Results

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

Funding for WIFIA, DWSRF and CWSRF Included in President’s FY18 Budget

President Donald Trump’s Budget Request for fiscal year 2018 (FY18), includes funding for the Water Infrastructure Finance Innovation Act (WIFIA), Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs, within the U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency (USEPA) budget. The WIFIA program received $20 million, with $17 million of that amount eligible … Read more

Utility Billing Frequency

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

New Environmental Finance Center for USEPA Region 8 States

The National Rural Water Association, headquartered in Duncan, Oklahoma, has been selected through a competitive grants process to establish a regional Environmental Finance Center (EFC) to serve the USEPA Region 8 states, which include Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. USEPA says the EFC will provide multi-media environmental finance expertise and outreach to regulated … Read more

WIFIA Funding Eligibility

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recently announced it is accepting letters of interest (LOI) for credit assistance for water infrastructure projects under the new Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The WIFIA program will provide long-term, low-cost credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees to creditworthy water projects. … Read more