Providing insights and analytics for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

Around 2007, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA)—representing utilities serving populations of at least 100,000—faced a knowledge gap that was hindering its members' ability to make informed decisions. Member utilities lacked the data to benchmark rate structures, financial health, and operational costs against their peers. The hurdle was significant: AMWA needed to collect over 160 complex financial indicators from nearly 200 diverse organizations without creating an administrative burden, all while ensuring the data was normalized for valid "apples-to-apples" comparisons. 

Since 2008, Raftelis has managed the complete lifecycle of the INSIGHT survey program, transforming it from a static survey into a dynamic intelligence platform. 

• Rigorous data standardization: We developed a survey instrument that balances standardization with flexibility, allowing diverse utilities to report data that is comparable across different accounting practices and service demographics. ‍
• High-touch quality assurance: Our team manages direct data collection and validation with utility finance staff, ensuring the integrity of the database. ‍
• Digital transformation: In 2016, Raftelis pivoted from static reporting to a custom, cloud-based analytics dashboard. This platform allows executives to filter peer groups, normalize data (e.g., per customer, per gallon), and visualize trends instantly without requiring advanced data science skills. 

INSIGHT has fundamentally changed how large water utilities approach benchmarking, becoming an essential resource for AMWA members. 

• 15+ years of longitudinal data: A continuous view of industry financial health spanning multiple economic cycles. ‍
• High participation: Sustained, high voluntary participation from the largest water providers in the U.S. ‍
• Evidence-based decision making: The dashboard has become a helpful tool for rate studies and board presentations, allowing executives to validate their financial strategies against real-world peer data. ‍
• Immediate access: Members moved from waiting for biannual reports to accessing on-demand self-service analytics that provide important industry perspectives and support real-time decision-making. 

As water utilities face a growing array of complex challenges, the value of the INSIGHT dataset continues to grow. The platform continues to evolve, integrating new visualization capabilities and data sources to deepen strategic insights. By providing a clear distinction between temporary market fluctuations and fundamental long-term trends, INSIGHT empowers AMWA members to navigate the future with confidence, turning historical data into predictive strategic value.