Utility Management

WIFIA Legislation Would Provide Low-Cost Loans for Water Infrastructure Projects

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U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced legislation in late January to reauthorize the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The bill would help stimulate investment in water infrastructure, such as flood control, stormwater management, and wastewater treatment by supplementing Federal funding with long-term, low-cost loans and loan guarantees. Similar legislation has … Read more

Horizontal Infrastructure Project Costs Increase Due to Recent Hurricanes

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The most recent hurricane season devastated parts of Texas, Florida, and areas of adjacent States, as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  As the post-storm cleanup costs mount, other parts of the country are also faced with financial impacts from the powerful storms.  Fuel prices are typically the first to be affected.  … Read more

Rate Survey: 2017 Solid Waste Rates

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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

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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

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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

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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