Fixed Asset Registry and Depreciation

In a rate study, depreciation is used as a means to recover the cost of using assets. It helps you equitably plan for and invest in new capital infrastructure. More often than not, rate studies calculate depreciation from a fixed asset registry. Assets in this registry will likely take the form of the project or program where they originated, such as a pump station, well, conveyance system, and so on.

A good asset management program looks at assets by their maintainable components. For a pump station, that means having “assets” of pumps, electrical components, the building, and pipes. The difference in how one views a pump station in a fixed asset registry versus an assent management plan can be seen in the table below.

What does this mean for your rate structure? The individual components of an asset or group of assets degrade differently. Asset management recognizes this, but your fixed asset registry may not. Unless these systems are appropriately matched, the rate policy may be calculating depreciation expense in a way that does not accurately reflect the utilities investment needs.

Allocating Costs and Changing Assumptions

If a sewer system has excessive inflow and infiltration (I&I) or a water system has too much water loss, utilities can use the principles of asset management to help reign in these problems. Leak inspection programs, strategic sewer lining, and pipe inspection are some of the tools used in varying degrees by utilities.

Tackling these problems at the utility level has impacts on your rate design. But how? Rate studies estimate revenue requirements over functional categories such as I&I and flow. A full “ramping up” of asset management programs that impact flow, O&M needs, and more can have important implications on the assumptions going into your rate program. The snapshot used to calculate rates in year one may no longer be relevant three years later.

For example, say your asset management program has identified the primary issues contributing to infiltration in a neighborhood with old, cracked concrete pipe. A capital project that funds critical sewer lining and burst pipes in year one drastically addresses this issue. This is positive news for the utility. However, the assumptions used in your rate study to allocate I&I expenses are now off, and expenses, as they relate to I&I, are now lower. Understanding these implications in advance may help you adapt and more accurately set pricing.

Balancing Capital and O&M Requirements

Finally, the way you maintain your system has a direct impact on the necessary capital expenses incurred. Greater efforts in preventative maintenance may lower expectations for expenses on capital replacements. Meanwhile, increased inspection may increase expenditures on emergency and preventative repairs as problems are found. New capital projects could decrease historic O&M requirements by fixing prior problems or increase O&M requirements by adding new services. An asset management program understands these interactions, and your rate and financial plan should reflect these same assumptions.

Conclusion

Using asset management to inform your utility financial plan and rate strategy improves the accuracy of forecasts and facilitates better investment in infrastructure. From fixed asset registries to O&M, there are several ways to start aligning asset management and rate studies today. Missing out may result in improper allocations or an underinvestment in key programs.