Revenue and Cost Recovery Alternatives For Utilities Implementing Water Conservation

摘要

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD, or the District) is currently developing a comprehensive water conservation program that includes rule changes, conservation modeling, utility outreach, and cooperative funding. While ulities within the District understand the benefits of conservation, they are concerned that conservation will negatively impact their revenue. In an effort to address these concerns, the District has contracted with Simmons Environmental Consulting (SEC) for a review of revenue and conservation program cost recovery strategies available to utilities. The objectives of this study were to: (1) Identify traditional and alternative strategies for utilities to recover revenue that is lost to conservation implementation. (2) Identify conservation program cost recovery strategies and strategies that partially or fully off-set program costs. (3) Identify finance mechanisms that Florida utilities can use to finance conservation program costs.