Post Tagged with: "credit ratings"

Fitch Ratings: U.S. water utilities withstanding inflationary pressures

Fitch Ratings: U.S. water utilities withstanding inflationary pressures

August 24, 2022 at 6:18 am 0 comments

According to a recent annual peer review for the sector by Fitch Ratings, U.S. water utilities have fared remarkably well post-coronavirus and are withstanding the effects of inflation on operations and capital spending. Operating costs are up across the board after a decline in fiscalRead More

Fitch Ratings: Operational technology cyberattacks are a credit risk for utilities

Fitch Ratings: Operational technology cyberattacks are a credit risk for utilities

May 24, 2022 at 12:19 pm 0 comments

Cyberattacks on industrial control systems/operational technology are more likely to have a credit and ESG impact than a corresponding attack on IT, Fitch Ratings says. Operational technology (OT) systems are vital production technologies that prioritize product or service availability and human safety and are oftenRead More

Fitch: Challenges Ahead for Utilities, But Not Enough to Weaken Ratings

Fitch: Challenges Ahead for Utilities, But Not Enough to Weaken Ratings

December 22, 2021 at 6:00 am 0 comments

By Doug Scott U.S. water and sewer utilities will see some weakening in their financial profiles over the next several months, effectively reversing a trend of steadily declining leverage in recent years as utilities limited the rate of debt growth and posted robust operating margins.Read More

Fitch: California drought may pressure water utilities’ margins

Fitch: California drought may pressure water utilities’ margins

October 4, 2021 at 7:28 am 0 comments

The current drought in California could cut into water utility revenues and pressure financial margins, Fitch Ratings says. Statewide water conservation mandates could be announced this fall, and some water agencies have already initiated cutbacks. After two years of dry conditions, California is experiencing aRead More

Fitch Ratings: Cyber events could pose ‘material risk’ to water, sewer utility credit

Fitch Ratings: Cyber events could pose ‘material risk’ to water, sewer utility credit

April 8, 2021 at 1:42 pm 0 comments

  Water and sewer credit ratings incorporate an assessment of an entity’s resiliency to manage unexpected events, including cyberattacks, which could pose financial and operating risks that ultimately affect utility credit quality, Fitch Ratings says. Event risks like cyberattacks are considered asymmetric risks per Fitch’sRead More

Rates and Affordability: A Ratings Agency Perspective

Rates and Affordability: A Ratings Agency Perspective

April 13, 2020 at 8:58 am 0 comments

By Erin Boeke Burke What Does “Affordable” Mean? There are a wide range of opinions on what it means for water and sewer service to be “affordable.” To some, water is a human right, others a property right, and still others a commodity. One thingRead More