Comments for StepWise Utility Advisors http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com financial guidance that makes a difference Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:09:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Colorado’s Public Trust Initiatives by Jason Mumm http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/colorados-public-trust-initiatives/comment-page-1#comment-703 Jason Mumm Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:09:04 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=2800#comment-703 Colorado Water Congress met yesterday and among many other things reaffirmed their opposition. Thank you to Coyote Gulch for the coverage. http://coyotegulch.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/colorado-water-congress-2012-annual-convention-state-lawmakers-oppose-public-trust-measures-on-fall-ballot/ Colorado Water Congress met yesterday and among many other things reaffirmed their opposition. Thank you to Coyote Gulch for the coverage. http://coyotegulch.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/colorado-water-congress-2012-annual-convention-state-lawmakers-oppose-public-trust-measures-on-fall-ballot/

]]> Comment on Are You Recovering Your Water and Sewer Utility’s Capital Costs? by Jason Mumm http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/are-you-recovering-your-water-and-sewer-utilitys-capital-costs/comment-page-1#comment-701 Jason Mumm Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:14:50 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=1016#comment-701 There are two separate issues here: depreciation of the asset, and contributed capital. The asset should be depreciated according to normal accounting convention. Contributed capital, such as grants and dedicated assets is recorded as "contributed capital" - a special account on the Equity side of the balance sheet. A good working definition for contributed capital: <em>any amount or item of money, services, or property received by a utility form any person or government agency any portion of which is provided at no cost to the utility.</em> Remember too: even though items may be contributed to a utility, that only diminishes the capital required to acquire the asset. The utility is still going to have to manage that asset's life including renewal and replacement and, ultimately, replacement. There are two separate issues here: depreciation of the asset, and contributed capital. The asset should be depreciated according to normal accounting convention. Contributed capital, such as grants and dedicated assets is recorded as “contributed capital” – a special account on the Equity side of the balance sheet. A good working definition for contributed capital: any amount or item of money, services, or property received by a utility form any person or government agency any portion of which is provided at no cost to the utility.

Remember too: even though items may be contributed to a utility, that only diminishes the capital required to acquire the asset. The utility is still going to have to manage that asset’s life including renewal and replacement and, ultimately, replacement.

]]> Comment on Are You Recovering Your Water and Sewer Utility’s Capital Costs? by Jess R. Shell http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/are-you-recovering-your-water-and-sewer-utilitys-capital-costs/comment-page-1#comment-694 Jess R. Shell Mon, 09 Jan 2012 23:37:06 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=1016#comment-694 Is it wise to depreciate an asset obtained without a utility's expenditure, such as federal grants or water lines dedicated by a developer? Is it wise to depreciate an asset obtained without a utility’s expenditure, such as federal grants or water lines dedicated by a developer?

]]> Comment on Census Data Confirm Affordability Is a Big Issue by Jason Mumm http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/census-data-confirm-affordability-is-a-big-issue/comment-page-1#comment-630 Jason Mumm Fri, 16 Sep 2011 19:38:16 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=2715#comment-630 With this posting, we have reached 100 blog posts since we opened for business! Thanks to all of our 400+ readers per month! With this posting, we have reached 100 blog posts since we opened for business! Thanks to all of our 400+ readers per month!

]]> Comment on Alabama Bankruptcy Offers Insight to Affordability of Water and Sewer Bills by Jason http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/alabama-bankruptcy-offers-insight-to-affordability-of-water-and-sewer-bills/comment-page-1#comment-605 Jason Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:36:32 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=2387#comment-605 Update. The decision on the proposal is expected sometime today. http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Sewer-debt-decision-expected-Friday/74g2n3E3e0urX6xBubFR_g.cspx Update.
The decision on the proposal is expected sometime today.
http://www.cbs42.com/content/localnews/story/Sewer-debt-decision-expected-Friday/74g2n3E3e0urX6xBubFR_g.cspx

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