Matters ▸ Attachment
Woodard Curran Memo_2019-03-26_FY20-FY22 Water and Sewer Rates_Final — File 207768
COMMITME
DRIVE RES
March 26, 2
Mr. Edward
Director of F
City Hall
93 Highland
Somerville,
Mr. John De
Director of W
17 Franey R
Somerville,
Re:
Re
Dear Mr. Be
Working wit
been used
needed in b
ensure its lo
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Discussion
Since the co
capital inve
sewer capit
replacemen
needs of th
developmen
escalated to
ENT & INTEG
SULTS
2019
Bean
Finance
d Avenue
MA 02143
eLuca
Water & Sewer
Rd
MA 02143
ecommended
ean and Mr. De
th City staff, W
successfully fo
both the water
ong-term accur
more robust p
hich included th
wo more years
alysis on trend
he Fire Suppres
minated;
he methodolog
idance from th
he rate calcula
iscount) tier de
useholds likely
he option to al
ded, allowing t
of the Capital P
ompletion of th
estments in the
tal programs w
nt. The progra
he City’s aged
nt called for in
o ensure the C
GRITY
40
S
A
w
r
Water and Se
eLuca:
Woodard & Cur
or setting rates
and sewer sy
racy for setting
rojection of ca
he addition of s
of billed consu
ds in volumetric
ssion Charges
y for projectin
e MWRA Advis
tion was redes
esigned to help
y to be on a fixe
llocate infrastr
the City to cons
Program
he original rate
e water and s
with expected
ams are design
d utility infrast
SomerVision.
ity is planning
0 Shattuck Roa
uite 110
ndover, Massa
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wer Rates for
ran has compl
over the past
ystems in the c
water and sew
apital projects a
several projects
umption records
c billings;
and associate
ng future MWR
sory Board;
signed to allow
p control utility
ed budget, as w
ucture investm
sider a stormw
model in 2015
ewer systems
overall spend
ned to better a
tructure as we
From the stan
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urran.com
r FY2020 throu
eted the rate s
four fiscal cyc
coming years,
wer rates:
and the related
s to the Capita
s were incorpo
ed revenues fro
RA costs was
w the City to c
costs for both
well as all resid
ments between
water utility in th
5 and 2016, the
. The financia
ding in excess
address long-d
ell as meet re
ndpoint of finan
or the probable
0
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ugh FY2022
study update o
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the model wa
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orated into the
om the Water E
updated using
consider the in
the smallest u
dential custome
n sewer and s
he future.
e City has subs
al model now
of $300 Millio
deferred repairs
equirements fo
ncial projection
e costs that wil
702.6371
557.8150
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of the financial
expected capi
s updated in s
sts were added
model to allow
Enterprise rate
g the most re
nstitution of a
use customers,
ers; and
stormwater infr
stantially upda
contains ten-y
on in system
s, upgrades an
or on-going gr
s, all capital p
ll be incurred.
model that ha
ital investment
several ways to
d to the mode
w for an updated
e structure wer
cent budgetar
new lower-cos
such as senio
rastructure wa
ted its plans fo
year water and
upgrades and
nd other critica
owth, including
roject costs ar
s
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o
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e
y
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or
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or
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al
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e
Somerville W
Impact of E
As part of t
implement
suppression
suppression
generate ad
After further
with this cha
revenue str
from volume
Lower-Cost
Given the e
Curran reca
residential c
tier is prima
customers o
discounted
rate increas
Recommen
The followin
the operatio
recommend
D
W&S (230225.
liminating the F
the rate design
a fire suppre
n system conn
n charge was
dditional revenu
r review and di
arge, and the m
eam, the volum
etric water billin
t /Discount Tier
expected impac
alculate the ra
customers a d
arily to reduce t
on fixed or lim
rate on their fir
ses for all resid
ded Rates
ng tables provi
ons and capit
ding that the cu
Tier
Ti
Rate Increa
iscount
1
2
3
4
01)
Fire Suppressio
n/revenue gen
ession charge
nections plumb
to increase eq
ue to the Wate
scussion with t
model has bee
metric rates re
ngs.
r
ct on rates of
ates structure
iscounted rate
the impact of ra
mited incomes,
rst 8 units of us
ential users.
de our recomm
al investment
urrent base cha
ier Range
ase (%)
0-8
9-13
14-67
68-133
>133
on Charge
eration model
to be levied
bed directly in
quitability in th
r Enterprise Fu
the community
n updated to re
commended in
the City’s capi
to include a
for the first 8
ate increases o
such as senio
sage in each b
mendation for t
needs of the
arges and all ot
2019
0.0%
n/a
$4.14
$5.97
$6.26
$6.50
from the origi
on water sy
nto the City wa
e billing struct
und.
y, the City has
eflect this chan
n this memo ha
ital investment
new discount
units per billin
over time on th
ors. Additionally
billing period, th
the water and
City’s utilities
ther fees be ke
Rates -
2020
6.0%
$3.95
$4.39
$6.33
$6.64
$6.89
inal study in 2
ystem custom
ater mains. T
ture by chargin
indicated that i
nge. As this ch
ave been adju
t plans, the Cit
t tier. The ne
ng cycle. The
he smallest use
y, as all reside
he rate will also
sewer volume
s for the next
ept at their curr
Water ($/unit)
2021
6.0%
$4.19
$4.65
$6.71
$7.03
$7.30
March
016, the City
ers who had
The intent of t
ng for this serv
it no longer wis
hange permane
sted to genera
ty has asked t
ew discount ti
intention of th
ers, which often
ential users wo
o reduce the o
tric rates need
three fiscal y
rent levels.
)
202
6.0
9
$4.4
5
$4.9
$7.1
3
$7.4
0
$7.7
h 2019
had planned to
dedicated fir
the original fir
vice as well a
shes to proceed
ently removes
ate this revenu
hat Woodard &
ier provides a
e new discoun
n coincides wit
ould receive th
overall impact o
ded to fully fund
years. We ar
22
%
44
93
11
46
74
o
e
e
s
d
a
e
&
ll
nt
h
e
of
d
e
Somerville W
D
In closing, t
the Water a
1. Fu
2. Pa
sew
3. Fu
If you have
contact me
Very truly yo
Toby Fedde
Vice Presid
Cc:
Ale
Jes
W&S (230225.
Tier
T
Rate I
Discount
1
2
3
4
the rates recom
and Sewer Ente
ully fund operat
ay the City’s M
wer utility costs
ully cover the co
e any further q
at tfedder@wo
ours,
er, P.E.
ent / Senior Pr
ex Lessin, Some
ssica Richard, W
01)
Tier Range
Increase (%)
0-8
9-13
14-67
68-133
>133
mmended in th
erprise Funds t
tional costs;
MWRA Annual
s); and
osts of the cap
questions conc
oodardcurran.c
rincipal
erville Water and
W&C
2019
5.0%
n/a
$8.20
$10.46
$10.97
$11.36
he tables abov
to:
Assessments
ital programs d
cerning the rat
com or via cell a
d Sewer
Rates -
2020
7.5%
$7.93
$8.82
$11.24
$11.79
$12.21
ve are projecte
(which constit
developed by t
te study or ou
at 603-817-744
Sewer ($/unit
2021
7.5%
$8.52
$9.48
$12.09
$12.68
$13.13
d to provide a
tute the majori
he City for both
ur projection o
41.
March
)
202
7.5%
2
$9.1
8
$10.
9
$12.
8
$13.
3
$14.
dequate reven
ity of overall w
h utilities.
of expected rev
h 2019
22
%
16
19
99
63
11
nues needed b
water utility and
venues, pleas
y
d
e