Rates & Affordability

NACWA says EPA’s FCA Guidance fails to affect low-income affordability

NACWA says EPA’s FCA Guidance fails to affect low-income affordability

February 2, 2023 at 1:48 pm 0 comments

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) expressed its disappointment this week at the outcome of a nearly five-year process to significantly overhaul the U.S. EPA’s Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance and ‘meaningfully address’ the growing ratepayer affordability gap. First issued in 1997, theRead More

Scorecard ranks U.S. states on water efficiency, sustainability policies

Scorecard ranks U.S. states on water efficiency, sustainability policies

January 31, 2023 at 2:00 pm 0 comments

In January 2023, the Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) released its 2022 U.S. State Policy Scorecard for Water Efficiency and Sustainability (Scorecard), which ranks each U.S. state based on its adoption of laws and policies that advance water efficiency, conservation, sustainability and affordability. California wasRead More

Call for Speakers! 2023 Water Finance Conference

Call for Speakers! 2023 Water Finance Conference

January 16, 2023 at 7:30 am 0 comments

9th Annual Event Returning to Cleveland, Ohio, August 8-9 RICHFIELD, Ohio — Organizers of the 2023 Water Finance Conference are looking for speakers for its ninth annual event to be held Aug. 8-9 in Cleveland, Ohio. Please email your 200-word abstract by March 10, 2023. Details below. The WaterRead More

Report details how much average wastewater service costs have increased

Report details how much average wastewater service costs have increased

January 4, 2023 at 10:32 am 0 comments

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) recently released a new report showing that average annual wastewater service costs for American families increased at twice the rate of inflation between 2000 and 2021. The report highlights how income inequality is driving heightened affordability challengesRead More

Staying in Control: Waterworth’s JP Joly on Forecasting Revenue, Rates

Staying in Control: Waterworth’s JP Joly on Forecasting Revenue, Rates

December 21, 2022 at 7:52 am 0 comments

Can’t predict the future when it comes to capital planning? Instead, control the future with continuous rate management. On this edition of WF&M Conversations, JP Joly, founder of Waterworth, joins Water Finance & Management managing editor Andrew Farr to discuss to the advantages of waterRead More

Fitch: Inflation to mount for U.S. water, sewer utilities in 2023

Fitch: Inflation to mount for U.S. water, sewer utilities in 2023

December 14, 2022 at 9:01 am 0 comments

Fitch Ratings says 2023 will bring a series of challenges that U.S. water and sewer utilities have not experienced in over a decade, according to Fitch Ratings’ 2023 outlook for the sector. Fitch Ratings’ 2023 sector outlook for U.S. water and sewer utilities is ‘Deteriorating’Read More

Rosemary Menard’s ‘Getting to Yes’ Strategy in Santa Cruz

Rosemary Menard’s ‘Getting to Yes’ Strategy in Santa Cruz

December 5, 2022 at 6:36 am 0 comments

Rosemary Menard, Water Director for the City of Santa Cruz, California, is the 2022 Water Finance & Management Award Winner As we know, utility work is multifaceted. Just as every water utility needs a dedicated team of operators, lab technicians and field crews, it alsoRead More

US Water Alliance releases new report on water shutoffs

US Water Alliance releases new report on water shutoffs

November 30, 2022 at 1:01 pm 0 comments

Some water utilities had as many as 40,000 unpaid accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic The US Water Alliance has released a new report on the practice and effect of water shutoffs due to nonpayment. The report, titled The Path to Universally Affordable Water Access: GuidingRead More

EPA selects 29 finance centers to receive grants, provide technical assistance

EPA selects 29 finance centers to receive grants, provide technical assistance

November 14, 2022 at 9:21 am 0 comments

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this month announced the selection of 29 Environmental Finance Centers (EFCs) that will help communities across the country access federal funding for infrastructure and greenhouse gas reduction projects that improve public health and environmental protection. The EFCs will deliver targeted technicalRead More

PUCT to prohibit water disconnections during cold weather emergencies

PUCT to prohibit water disconnections during cold weather emergencies

October 24, 2022 at 8:00 am 0 comments

The Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUCT) has adopted rules prohibiting non-municipal public water and sewer utilities from disconnecting customers during extreme cold weather emergencies. The new rules mean those utilities cannot disconnect service or issue late fees for nonpayment of bills due during suchRead More