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WATER, WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER RATE STUDY

WATER, WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER RATE STUDY. Public Meeting to Review Proposed Financial Plan for Utility. April 1, 2014. Rate Study Timeline. November 12, 2013: Public Meeting to Establish City Council Expectations, Direction and Policy

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WATER, WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER RATE STUDY

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  1. WATER, WASTEWATER AND RECLAIMED WATER RATE STUDY Public Meeting to Review Proposed Financial Plan for Utility April 1, 2014 .

  2. Rate Study Timeline • November 12, 2013: Public Meeting to Establish City Council Expectations, Direction and Policy • Minimum Monthly Charges and Base Usage Rates Unchanged Since 2008 • Course of Action Discussed: Present Proposed Financial Plan (e.g., Need for Revenue / Rate Increases) and Obtain Council Approval Before Proceeding With Rate Design • April 1, 2014 (Today): Presentation of Proposed Financial Plan for Utility

  3. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System • Staff Has Identified Approximately $57.5 Million in Capital Projects • Primarily Necessary Repairs and Upgrades to Utility System • Public Health and Safety • Quality of Service • Asset Management • Could Face Future Fines From Regulatory Agencies If Not Completed • Recommend Additional Debt Financing to Avoid “Rate Shock”

  4. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System (continued) • Projected Funding of Capital Program: • Balance of Internal Funding Sources and Debt Financing

  5. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System (continued) • Operating Expenses Projected to Continue Increasing • Congressional Budget Office National CPI Projections: Over 2% Increase Per Year • Due to Regulatory Environment, Capital-Intensive Nature of Utility Operation, and Commodity Cost Increases (Electricity, Chemicals, Fuel, etc.), Utility Costs Typically Increase at Higher Rate Than General Inflation • Inflation and Costs of Construction (ENR Construction Cost Index) Continue to Increase Despite Economy

  6. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System (continued) • Must Meet Debt Service Requirements Associated With Existing and Anticipated Debt • 150% All-In Coverage Target Recommended (Supported by Credit Rating Agencies) • Need to Maintain Adequate Operating Reserves and Margins to Ensure Continued Creditworthiness of System and Provide Funds for Emergencies • Target Operating Reserves Balance = 90 Days of Rate Revenue

  7. Revenue Under Existing Rates Projected to Be Insufficient to Meet All Revenue Requirements • Projected Need to Adjust Rates to Keep Utility Sustainable • Cumulative National CPI Change Since Last Adjustment (in 2008) of Minimum Monthly and Base Usage Charges: 7.3% • Revenue Requirements Analysis:

  8. Projected Need for Revenue Adjustments • Balance of Operational and Financial Considerations

  9. Revenue Adjustment Comments • Water Revenue Adjustments • CPI Adjustments to Preserve Operating Margins • User Rates Anticipated to Remain Around Average of What Neighboring Utilities Are Charging • Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Revenue Adjustments • Adjustments for Wastewater and Reclaimed Water Are Same Since Systems Are Integrally Linked • City Considers Reclaimed Water 100% Wastewater-Related • Reclaimed Water Revenue Classified as Component of Wastewater Revenues in City Financial Reports • User Rates Anticipated to Gradually Increase to Average of What Neighboring Utilities Are Charging • Alternative: Could Make All User Rate Revenue Adjustment Percentages the Same

  10. Revenue Adjustments Are Positioning Utility for More Pay-As-You-Go Funding of Renewals and Replacements • Existing Senior Lien Bonds Fully Paid By Fiscal Year 2022 and Largest Existing SRF Loan Fully Paid By Fiscal Year 2024 • Revenues Currently Used to Pay These Debt Issues Can Be Used for Either: • Pay-As-You-Go Funding for Routine Capital Replacements • Additional Debt for Major Capital Expenditures (e.g., Growth-Related Projects, Major System Replacements)

  11. Recommendation: Price Indexing Adjustment Clause • Discussed During November 12th Meeting • In Absence of Rate Study Recommendation, Automatic Rate Increases for Inflationary Effects on Costs of Operation • Implemented Without Formal Public Hearing or Analysis • Effective October 1st of Each Fiscal Year • Could Consider Maximum and Minimum Percentages (e.g., No Rate Decreases If Index Percentage Change Is Negative) • Favored By Credit Rating Agencies • More Assurance That Rates Will Keep Up With Inflation • Less Implied Risk of Default on Debt Service Payments • Any Adjustments Above Index Adjustment Would Require Council Adoption

  12. Water User Rate Comparison • Monthly Usage of 4,000 Gallons • Average Usage of Single Family Residential Customer in System [*] Utilities in CAPITALIZED letters: i) are involved in rate study; ii) are planning to conduct rate study; or iii) will implement rate revision or price index / pass-through adjustment within twelve months

  13. Wastewater User Rate Comparison • Monthly Usage of 4,000 Gallons • Average Usage of Single Family Residential Customer in System [*] Utilities in CAPITALIZED letters: i) are involved in rate study; ii) are planning to conduct rate study; or iii) will implement rate revision or price index / pass-through adjustment within twelve months

  14. Combined Water and Wastewater User Rate Comparison • Monthly Usage of 4,000 Gallons • Average Usage of Single Family Residential Customer in System [*] Utilities in CAPITALIZED letters: i) are involved in rate study; ii) are planning to conduct rate study; or iii) will implement rate revision or price index / pass-through adjustment within twelve months

  15. Reclaimed Water User Rate Comparison • Monthly Usage of 12,000 Gallons • Average Usage of Single Family Residential Customer with Reclaimed Water Service in System

  16. Moving Forward… • Request Approval of Proposed Financial Plan • PRMG Will Return in a Few Weeks with Proposed Rates • User Rates • Development Fees (Impact Fees) • Miscellaneous Service Charges

  17. Financial Plan • Development of Financial Forecast • Fiscal Years 2014 to 2019 • Purpose: To Identify Funding Requirements and Cost Recovery Strategies • Assess the Adequacy of Existing Rates • Analysis Includes Forecast of: • Customer Growth and Revenue • Operating Expenses • Debt Service Obligations • Capital Improvement Requirements / Funding

  18. Financial Plan Guiding Principles • Compliance With Regulatory Requirements • EPA / FDEP / SJRWMD • Revenues Should Be Sufficient to Recover Full Cost of Providing Service • Utility Should Remain Financially Viable and Sustainable • Adequate Funding for Operating and Maintaining the System • Capital Investment to Improve, Renew and Rehabilitate Facilities • Compliance With Rate Covenants for Existing and Anticipated Debt • Balanced Debt Risk (Pay-As-You-Go vs. Debt Financing) • Adequate Cash Reserves

  19. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System (continued) • Identified Water System Capital Program:

  20. Major Issues Currently Affecting Utility System (continued) • Identified Wastewater and Reclaimed Water System Capital Program:

  21. Revenue Requirements • Reflect Total Expenditures Funded from Rates • Expenditures Include the Following: • Operation and Maintenance Expenses • Debt Service Requirements • Renewals and Replacements • Ongoing: Allows Assets to Meet Useful Service Life • Major: Extends Useful Service Life of Assets • Administrative Transfers

  22. Breakdown of Need for Revenue Adjustments

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