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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10304
August 13, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 1 of 3
SUBJECT: WATER DEPARTMENT FY2020 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
Each year the Water Department completes cost of service studies for Retail and Wholesale
customer classes for both water and sewer services. Those studies are used to determine the rates
that will be recommended to the City Council. The purpose of this Informal Report is to outline the
process and topics addressed in the 2020 rate setting process and to provide the projected change in
water and sewer revenue requirements.
Retail Water and Sewer Rate Process
Retail rates paid by Fort Worth residents and businesses are based on the D cost of
service, which is established as part of the annual budget process using industry standards. Once the
cost of service is determined, the preliminary rates and specific topics that might affect the rate
structure are presented to the D informal Water and Sewer Retail Rate Structure
Stakeholder Group for input and feedback. This group is comprised of customers representing the
various retail customer classes, which include residential, commercial, industrial, irrigation and super
users. The group is charged with ensuring equity among customer classes and providing input into
how costs are allocated within rate structures.
Water Department staff met with the Stakeholder Group on May 20, June 3, June 17, and June 24 to
present budget drivers and costs, trends in water and wastewater usage over the last decade, and
preliminary 2020 rates for both water and sewer service for all customer classes. Staff requested
feedback on specific issues impacting revenue recovery and rate structure. These topics included the
fixed versus variable revenue recovery stability plan for retail sewer service, integration of the Super
User class into the Industrial class, and full cost of service revenue recovery for all retail classes.
Budget Drivers
The FY2020 budget is increasing by 3.5% over the FY2019 Adopted Budget. The FY2020 increase is
driven primarily by the City Council-adopted capital improvement plan, which requires increases to
both debt service and pay-go cash financing. Other major increases include implementation of the
new City Council-osed pay for
performance compensation plan. Other increases include personnel costs to fund new positions to
address growth and complexity in the system and new regulatory requirements, additional contractual
services for sewer treatment and biosolids management provided by third party vendors, costs to
comply with the newly adopted Utility Cut Policy, and additional funding for vehicle and facility repair
and maintenance.
Cost of Service Process and Rates
As part of the cost of service study, staff prepares the budget for the ensuing fiscal year and
determines the cost responsibility and revenue requirements to recover the costs of providing service
to each of the six water customer classes. Staff also reviews volume usage by class and makes
adjustments based on both recent and long-term trends. This process provides cost of service rates.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10304
August 13, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 2 of 3
SUBJECT: WATER DEPARTMENT FY2020 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
Since the inception of a tiered rate structure for the Irrigation customer class beginning in 2008, its
volumetric rates were tied to the rates of the upper tiers of the Residential customer class. However,
different water usage patterns of the two classes created difficulty in maintaining each class at its cost
of service. After in-depth discussion with the Stakeholder Group in 2016, the group recommended
untying the Irrigation volumetric rates from the Residential rates beginning in 2017, enabling each
class to stand alone relative to its cost of service. The recommended 2020 rates make significant
progress towards closing this gap.
The Super User class was established in 2006 for customers using more than 30 million cubic feet of water
each year through a single meter and with constant level usage and very little peaking each month. However,
upon review of water usage trends since 2006, the class behaves very similarly to the Industrial class. The
planned integration of the Super User class back into the Industrial class has been phased in successfully over
a five-year period and will be eliminated in 2020.
Fixed vs. Variable Revenue Recovery Stability Plan
The 2020 rates continue the multi-year implementation of increased cost recovery from fixed service charges
for sewer service to improve revenue recovery
volume sales-based revenues. Begun in FY2014 for Water charges, the revenue derived from fixed charges
was increased from a ratio of 17% fixed and 83% variable to a 30%/70% ratio, which was achieved in 2018
and remains in place. Begun in FY2015, the revenues for Sewer service are increasing from a ratio of 12%
fixed and 88% variable to a 20-25% fixed component. The 2020 recommended sewer rates continue the plan
to reach the desired 20-25% fixed component of sewer revenue. This shift to receiving more revenue from
fixed rather than variable income sources results in the monthly service fee becoming a greater portion of the
monthly bill. Moving to a higher percentage of fixed revenue recovery is a utility industry trend that lessens
dependence on weather conditions and improves stability in revenue collection and cash flow. This issue was
reviewed with the customer Stakeholder Group, which continues to support the plan.
Wholesale Water and Sewer Rate Process
Wholesale rates paid by the 32 water customer cities and 23 sewer customer cities are based on
cost of service studies performed on a three-year rotation using consultant services, alternating water and
sewer, with Department staff completing the study the alternate years. The process and methodology are
established within the Uniform Wholesale Contracts for water and sewer services. Studies are based on test
year expenditure data, adjusting for known and measurable changes. Volumes used to calculate the rate
change are based on prior year actual use. Results of the cost of service studies and preliminary rates are
presented to the Wholesale Water and Wastewater Advisory Committees, comprised of representatives of
each of the customer cities. Staff met with the Cost of Service Subcommittee of the Wholesale Advisory
Committees on May 14 and June 27, and met with the full Wholesale Advisory Committees on June 5 to
present the preliminary FY2020 wholesale water and sewer rates. Final rates were provided to the members of
the Wholesale Advisory Committees on July 12.
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10304
August 13, 2019
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Page 3 of 3
SUBJECT: WATER DEPARTMENT FY2020 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS
FY2020 Recommendations and System Adjustments
Based on the cost of service studies and the input received from the Stakeholder Group for retail rates, staff
recommends the following adjustments in system wide revenue requirements for Retail Water and Sewer
service:
Retail Water: + 1.98%
Retail Sewer: + 2.93%
Based on the prescribed cost of service rate methodology established in the Uniform Wholesale Contracts with
our Wholesale customers and input from the Wholesale Advisory Committees, the following adjustments in
system wide revenue requirements are required for Wholesale Water and Sewer rates:
Wholesale Water: -10.56%
Wholesale Sewer: - 3.53%
Additional detailed information about the recommended FY2020 rates may be provided, as desired. Should
you have any questions about the retail or wholesale rate processes, please contact Chris Harder, Water
Director, at 817-392-5020.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS