One measure of a utility’s capacity to bring in enough revenue to cover operating costs is the Operating Ratio. Calculated as the total operating revenue divided by total operating expense (excluding depreciation and debt service principal), the minimum target for the Operating Ratio is 1.0. The two graphics shown below illustrate the 2010 operating ratios … Read more
In 2011, 74 percent of the combined large and small system survey respondents reported providing a recycling service within their communities. This represents a slight increase from 2010, when the percentage was 72 percent. We first asked about recycling services in 2006, at which time 39 percent of systems reported a recycling program. The graphic … Read more
We are often asked what “the other guys” are doing when it comes to the practice of making transfers from utility funds. We posed this question in the 2011 North Central Region Utility Rate Survey. To quantify the size of the transfers made, we asked for the annual transfer amount, either as a percentage of … Read more
The 2011 AE2S North Central Utility Rate Surveys have been completed. The surveys include a summary of water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste utility rates. Also included are a variety of charts comparing statistics such as the prevalence and size of transfers from utility funds to other municipal funds, calculated financial operating ratios, recycling statistics, … Read more
AE2S is pleased to announce that the 10th annual North Central Region Utility Rate Study has been completed and will soon be distributed to all participating utilities. This year survey respondents included 84 systems greater than 5,000 people outside of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area (referred to as Metro), 34 systems serving greater than 5,000 … Read more
The Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) provide critical infrastructure funding for wastewater and water projects. These programs, managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), provide annual grants to all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The states are required to match the EPA funds with 20 percent funding which then creates a … Read more