http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/water-rates-up-for-arizona-american-water Sound financial guidance that makes a difference Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:12:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/water-rates-up-for-arizona-american-water/comment-page-1#comment-78 jgmumm Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:28:31 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=749#comment-78 I think the point that we are trying to make, I believe successfully, is that private operators of these utilities are not doing any better job of keeping user charges down than are their municipal counterparts. The efficiencies that have to be generated by a private company to best a municipal owner/operator are significant. It's not that it can't be done, it's that there seems to be clear evidence all over the US right now that it is NOT being done. I think the point that we are trying to make, I believe successfully, is that private operators of these utilities are not doing any better job of keeping user charges down than are their municipal counterparts. The efficiencies that have to be generated by a private company to best a municipal owner/operator are significant. It’s not that it can’t be done, it’s that there seems to be clear evidence all over the US right now that it is NOT being done.

]]> http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/water-rates-up-for-arizona-american-water/comment-page-1#comment-77 Gerry Marr Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:53:00 +0000 http://www.stepwiseadvisors.com/?p=749#comment-77 Most North American public water utilities are managed and owned by local municipalities. Does that fact not shout loudly about low productivities and higher costs/rates than are justifiable? Structual change is vital if costs and prices/rates are to be fair and justifiable v. the low productivities of labour and assets. Most North American public water utilities are managed and owned by local municipalities. Does that fact not shout loudly about low productivities and higher costs/rates than are justifiable? Structual change is vital if costs and prices/rates are to be fair and justifiable v. the low productivities of labour and assets.

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