Tag: North Carolina (Page 4 of 5)

For the times (of residential electricity use in N.C.), they are a-changin’

November 1, 2013 / David Tucker

David R. Tucker is a Project Director at the Environmental Finance Center at UNC Chapel Hill

Source: Citizens Utility Board of Oregon

It’s the season of Halloween, and for some, this time of ghosts and goblins, zombies and vampires can be scary. For others, trick or treating and costumes and parties are great fun. For still others, the scary news of late is higher electric bills. Here in our home state, the North Carolina Utility Commission (NCUC) has approved a 7.2% residential electric rate increase for Duke Energy Carolinas customers, and a similar 7.5% increase for Duke Energy Progress customers. However, the NCUC’s orders came with several other changes for Duke Energy, including the piloting of residential electric Time of Use (TOU) rates – the analysis of which is the sort of thing we at the EFC think is fun!

Cumulative Bill Increases for Water or Combined Water and Wastewater in 1,961 Utilities in Six States Compared to CPI by Region

Water Rate Increases Among 1,961 Utilities in Six States in the Last Decade

October 30, 2013 / Shadi Eskaf

Shadi Eskaf is a Senior Project Director for the Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Our research shows that water rates have been rising faster than CPI inflation in the past few years for hundreds of utilities, particularly after the financial crisis. In some states, however, there were also many utilities whose rates failed to keep pace with inflation.

From a rate-setting perspective, utilities that raised rates more frequently had a double advantage over utilities that raised rates only occasionally or rarely. First: the average annual rate increase was lower than the one-time rate increases of utilities that occasionally raised rates, reducing the rate shock that customers experienced when rates rose. Second: despite the lower average rate increases, utilities that raised rates more frequently accumulated, on average, a larger total increase in rates in a five-year period than utilities that raised rates only occasionally.

Trends in Ratio of Operating Revenues to Expenses in Six States — How Operating Revenues and Expenses Changed Over Time for 2,832 Utilities in Six States

Trends in Operating Expenses Relative to Operating Revenues for Local Government-Owned Water Utilities

May 22, 2013 / Shadi Eskaf

Shadi Eskaf is a Senior Project Director for the Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Ratio of Operating Revenues to Operating Expenses for 62 Utilities Nationwide

A couple of months ago, we blogged that water utilities’ operating revenues are generally continuing to grow every year, but that there was a slowdown of revenue increases in recent years, particularly after 2008. At the same time, expenses are also rising. Does this mean that expenses have caught up to revenues and that the majority of utilities are now experiencing revenue shortfalls?

Graphs of Utility Revenue Changes in Six States — How 2,838 Water and Wastewater Utilities’ Revenues Changed Over Time in Six States

Are operating revenues declining for local government-owned water utilities? Evidence from six states.

March 6, 2013 / Shadi Eskaf

Shadi Eskaf is a Senior Project Director for the Environmental Finance Center at the University of North Carolina.

Previous blog posts (here and here) discussed the fact that per capita water consumption is declining. The financial ramifications can be significant, since charges for customer sales constitute the single largest source of revenue for water utilities. Has the downward trend in water consumption translated into declining revenues for utilities? Anecdotally, we have heard from several utilities in Canada and the United States that the decline in water use has caused revenues to fall short of projections in recent years. Analyzing how revenues for 2,838 utilities changed from one year to the next in six states spread across the United States helps answer the question of whether revenues are declining.
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Survey Says: Some in NC Using Green Financial Incentives, Elsewhere Regulations

October 11, 2012 /

Dayne Batten is a Research Assistant for the EFC and second year MPA student at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Government.

NC Local governments surveyed indicated a diversity in policies, ranging from financial incentives for green building projects to regulations affecting alternative energy installations.

Alternative energy facilities, green site design features, and green building techniques (such as those required for LEED certification) are a promising way for citizens, businesses, and governments to minimize the environmental impacts of construction projects. Seizing on these opportunities for environmental responsibility, many local governments have provided incentive programs for green construction in their zoning ordinances. Other governments, seeking to walk a fine line between environmental friendliness and aesthetics, have regulated various features of alternative energy installations. But how many local governments are doing this? And what, specifically, are they doing?

Tag: North Carolina (Page 4 of 5)

For the times (of residential electricity use in N.C.), they are a-changin’

Water Rate Increases Among 1,961 Utilities in Six States in the Last Decade

Trends in Operating Expenses Relative to Operating Revenues for Local Government-Owned Water Utilities

Are operating revenues declining for local government-owned water utilities? Evidence from six states.

Survey Says: Some in NC Using Green Financial Incentives, Elsewhere Regulations

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