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Mesa utility forecast: capacity fee covers $400M of growth projects; reserves and water risks discussed
Summary
Utility staff told council that adopting a capacity fee moved about $400 million of growth projects off base utility rates and improved the five‑year utility forecast; presenters warned of inflationary cost increases for water/wastewater and said Colorado River cuts are a credit risk under bond rating reviews.
Utility staff presented an updated multi‑year forecast on Feb. 26, saying the recent adoption of a capacity fee allows Mesa to fund roughly $400,000,000 in growth projects without embedding that cost in base utility rates.
Staff outlined sharp cost increases across utility operations over the past four years — for example, water commodities and chemical costs rose more than 50% in several line items — and emphasized that the 91st Avenue water reclamation plant and Val Vista treatment plant have required higher maintenance spending. "The water commodity, those…
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