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Member Update (MU05-15)

Member Pipeline - Member Services & Information - Update (MU05-15)

To: Members & Affiliates*
From: National Office
Date: October 14, 2005
Subject: 2005 NACWA INDEX SURVEY
Reference: MU 05-15

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Action Please By:
December 9, 2005

Since 1992, NACWA has published the NACWA Index annually to track average annual single-family residential service charge increases as measured against the rate of inflation. Because there is a wide range of rate structures implemented by utilities (e.g., one or a combination of flat rates, fixed or tiered volume rates, tax rates), the average annual single-family residential sewer service charge (inclusive of collection and treatment) provides a consistent benchmark to measure the price of service and changes in the price of service among public utilities nationwide.

The one-page Index survey requests the average annual single-family residential sewer service charge and service population of each NACWA utility respondent (see attached survey questionnaire). From these values, a population-weighted nationwide average annual single-family residential service charges and annual NACWA Index are determined. The Index is representative of the Association’s broad membership, and this valuable resource continues to be used by wastewater agencies and national policy makers. Individual agency responses are kept confidential.

Complete the 2005 NACWA Index Survey — Also Available Online!
Attached is your agency’s individualized one-page survey questionnaire requesting information for 2005. Your agency’s past survey responses (if applicable) are provided on the survey form along with the names of the person(s) who provided the information. If historical information is missing or inaccurate, please feel free to add or modify this data directly on the survey form. Changes will be reflected in this year’s NACWA Index. Please complete the survey questionnaire and return via fax to Mark Hoeke, NACWA’s contractor, at 202/318-1472 no later than December 9, 2005. In order to ensure consistency, the 2005 NACWA Index survey questionnaire should ideally be completed by the same individual who submitted information for your agency in the past (refer to attached survey form for the names of your agency’s respondents).

As an alternative to the hard copy form, NACWA also offers the ability to complete the survey online through CleanWater Central. Follow these steps to submit your survey response online:

  1. Go to the CleanWater Central homepage at http://www.cleanwatercentral.org.
     
  2. Click on "Enter private subscribers area".
     
  3. Enter your NACWA Member Pipeline ID (website ID) and password (listed on attached hardcopy form). Click on "login".
     
  4. At your agency profile page, click on "Surveys" on the top menu.
     
  5. At surveys menu page click on 2005 NACWA Index in the active NACWA/WERF surveys box.
     
  6. Complete the brief 2005 NACWA Index survey questionnaire, and click on "Submit". You should receive a pop-up box indicating that your responses have been submitted. Alternatively, you may save your responses for later submittal by clicking on "Save".

Interested in past NACWA Index survey results? Check out the "Reports" section of CleanWater Central online. Click on the "Survey Data" reports category, and then click on the "Average Annual Household User Charge (NACWA Index)" report to view summary statistics or the distribution of service charges from past years.

2004 Index Reveals Charges Increasing Faster than Inflation
The 2004 Index indicated that the sewer service charges paid by residential customers increased 5.2 percent nationwide in 2004, which is 2.5 percent above the level of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The 2004 Index marked the third consecutive year that average sewer service charges have outpaced inflation. Emergence of this trend in the Index may indicate that increasing costs are outpacing utilities’ ability to economize operations, largely due to ongoing repair and replacement of aging infrastructure, security and emergency preparedness needs as well as increased construction costs for wet weather-related projects.

Your Participation Is Encouraged!
Please take a moment to complete the attached Index survey questionnaire either online (http://www.cleanwatercentral.org) or via hard copy. Please contact Shawnita Dickens, Member & Internal Services Assistant at 202/833-1449 or sdickens@nacwa.org for a copy of your agency's Index Survey. Again, please fax completed hard copies to Mark Hoeke at 202/318-1472 no later than Friday, December 9, 2005. If you have any questions about the attached survey form or any of the historical data please contact NACWA’s contractor, Mark Hoeke at 202/361-7446 or mhoeke@bluewin.ch, or Chris Hornback at NACWA’s National Office, 202/833-9106 or chornback@nacwa.org.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this important request.

 

* This Member Update Provided to Affiliates for Information Only