Preliminary 2021 Rate Survey Results for Systems Serving 5,000 or Greater

The 20th Anniversary Edition of the AE2S Nexus Annual Utility Rate Surveys are in the process of being mailed out and hand delivered. We wanted to share a preliminary look at the results to help you understand how your rates compare to those of your peers.  We hope that the results are useful to systems throughout … Read more

$17 Million for Small System Training, Technical Assistance & Water Quality Initiatives

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) announced more than $17 million in grant funding to help provide training and technical assistance to small drinking water and wastewater systems that often serve small communities and rural America. This funding will improve public health and environmental protection by helping to ensure that drinking water in these communities … Read more

The 20th Annual Utility Rate Survey is Underway

The digital and print versions of the 20th Annual Rate Survey questionnaire went out to utilities at the beginning of February.   Each year, AE2S conducts a survey of water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste utility rates throughout the region. Two unique reports are prepared based on community population. One is for communities with populations of … Read more

2021 Financial Capability Assessment for Clean Water Act Obligations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) signed a Federal Register notice finalizing the 2021 Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) for Clean Water Act (CWA) Obligations. A pre-publication of the 2021 FCA is available until the official version is published in the Federal Register, which has been delayed until the document can be reviewed by the Biden … Read more

Federal Appropriations Bill & COVID Relief Package Benefits the Water Sector

The Federal year-end Omnibus Appropriations Bill was grouped with the high profile COVID relief legislative package. Several appropriations benefit the water sector, including: Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF): $1,638,826,000 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): $1,126,088,000 Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA): $59.5M U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Overflow Control & Stormwater Municipal … Read more

‘Tis the Season to Set Rates for Next Year

The fourth quarter of what seems like the longest year in history is upon us.  As utility decision makers review year-end revenue projections and sign off on expenditures for the coming year, it is also the time for the discussion of the rate schedule.  Rate changes can be a complicated and difficult discussion topic.  The … Read more