Insights

The rapid growth of data center capacity and the resulting need for generation is presenting electric utilities with market opportunities not seen in decades. This relatively sudden upturn in electricity consumption is rightly commanding much attention in the energy sector. It is essential to carefully assess the potential benefits and potential downsides of data center expansion as part of an overall evaluation of the opportunity for the city, residents, and businesses of the broader region.  

Raftelis partnered with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on a series of Food Matters workshops that focused on food waste reduction in cities. Our workshops covered municipal funding structures for sustainable food waste diversion programs, grant funding for reducing food waste, and leveraging fees to fund flexible and sustainable food waste projects.

Smart meter deployment represents one of the most significant infrastructure investments in the electric utility sector over the last two decades. Adoption rates have reached critical mass, and the technology is now fundamentally reshaping the utility landscape.

The rapid proliferation of data centers, driven by AI and cloud computing advancements, presents significant opportunities and complex challenges for water utilities. These facilities often consume millions of gallons of water daily and can strain existing resources and infrastructure, necessitating thoughtful and equitable pricing strategies for water.

In utility planning, few things are more complicated and more important than how costs are shared. In Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, the Kline’s Island Sewer System (KISS) is undergoing a critical transformation and investment to optimize cost-sharing agreements for the future.

Vice President Joe Crea is talking affordability, explaining some of the factors contributing to rising utility costs and why prioritizing affordable access is essential for successful rate planning. Hear how Raftelis partners with utilities, like Louisville Water and Raleigh Water, to develop innovative solutions and comprehensive affordability roadmaps.

As rate consultants, it’s a question we are often asked—"Why does it cost more for water or wastewater service here than it does at other (seemingly) similar utilities in the area?” The question usually arises when we provide a utility bill comparison for a typical residential customer during a presentation to utility managers, elected officials, or a governing board.

For public utilities, setting fair and equitable rates is a complex and ever-evolving challenge. Traditionally, cost-of-service studies have relied on historical assumptions, monthly meter reads, and estimations based on small subsamples of customer usage data. However, with the innovation of Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), utilities now have access to an unprecedented level of granular data—hourly usage for every customer.

Ensuring access to affordable water and wastewater services is a critical challenge for many municipalities. Louisville Water and the Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District (Louisville MSD) in Kentucky and Raleigh Water in North Carolina, have taken significant steps to address this issue.