Influencing Water Use: Inclining Block Rate Structures

Water use is as predictable as it is unpredictable. Factors outside the control of water system managers heavily influence water use – weather conditions, user demographics, economic conditions, etc. Tools available to system managers primarily include educational efforts, incentive programs that reward customers for installation of water-saving devices, and rate structuring/pricing. Scientific research related to … Read more

2022 Rate Survey Benchmarking:  Reserve Targets

The importance of reserve funding for water and wastewater systems has never been so well illustrated as over the past two years.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, utilities took extreme measures to ensure that critical clean water and sanitary sewer services were not disrupted, including suspending service shut-off practices. As a result of the disruption to … Read more

Transparent Water Billing Grant Available

The Utah Division of Water Resources is accepting applications for a new Transparent Water Billing Grant Program. Applications for the one-time funds are available to retail water providers in Utah that have a current water conservation plan filed with the Utah Division of Water Resources. The grant program aims to implement water billing practices that … Read more

ARPA Investment: Cities and Counties Prioritize Infrastructure

With the beginning of $350 billion being injected into local economies through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, government officials are busy prioritizing needs and working through the guidance from the U.S. Treasury on how the funds can be used. A recent survey conducted by the International City/County Management … Read more

2018 Utility Rate Survey Results

AE2S Nexus has published the 2018 edition of its annual Utility Rate Survey. We would like to thank the 311 participants this year. AE2S Nexus received responses from 135 systems serving populations 5,000 and greater, 115 systems serving populations less than 5,000, and 61 regional/rural systems.  Survey data was solicited from utilities in Iowa, Minnesota, … Read more

2018 Rate Survey Results for Systems Serving 5,000 or Greater

The 2018 AE2S Nexus Annual Utility Rate Survey is currently being distributed to all participants who voluntarily shared their data.  We hope the results are useful to systems throughout the region as budgets are finalized and 2019 rates are set, by providing a regional measure of benchmarking themselves against similar systems and/or the system next … Read more