Post Tagged with: "Fitch Ratings"

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

Stiffer Inflation Test Awaits U.S. Water and Sewer Utilities in 2023

Stiffer Inflation Test Awaits U.S. Water and Sewer Utilities in 2023

November 28, 2022 at 7:30 am 0 comments

By Dennis Pidherny & Audra Dickinson U.S. water utilities fared remarkably well during the coronavirus pandemic and appear to be withstanding the effects of inflation on operations and capital spending thus far. This is not to say the sector hasn’t struggled. Operating costs are upRead More

Fitch report: Drought could eventually pressure some California water agencies

Fitch report: Drought could eventually pressure some California water agencies

October 25, 2022 at 6:00 am 0 comments

According to a new report from Fitch Ratings, drought conditions across California have not triggered rating changes thus far for water agencies, although some agencies could be susceptible to rating pressure over time. Despite its second, severe, multi-year drought in a decade worsened by theRead More

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 Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities

Fitch Ratings: Rising interest rates present opportunity for WIFIA, water utilities

April 26, 2022 at 8:12 am 0 comments

A rising interest rate environment could prove a boon for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. The WIFIA loan program has been hugely successful for U.S. water utilities but is currently oversubscribed. The size ofRead 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: Arizona water rates rise as Colorado River shortage declared

Fitch: Arizona water rates rise as Colorado River shortage declared

August 18, 2021 at 3:34 pm 0 comments

According to Fitch Ratings, mandatory water cuts from the Colorado River for the 2022 water year were recently announced by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) in its Colorado Basin August 2021 24-month study. Per the study, Lake Mead will operate under a tier 1Read More

Fitch Ratings: U.S. water utilities emerge largely ‘COVID-proof’

Fitch Ratings: U.S. water utilities emerge largely ‘COVID-proof’

July 6, 2021 at 9:50 am 0 comments

Despite increased delinquencies and some bad debts, U.S. water utilities have fared better than originally expected a year after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Fitch Ratings’ inaugural peer review of the sector. In fact, most water utilities saw improved revenue growth year-over-yearRead More