HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Read Before Packet - 11/10/2020 - Memorandum From Gretchen Stanford And Lance Smith Re: Resuming Utility Disconnects On November 13, 2020
Utilities
electric · stormwater · wastewater · water
222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: November 10, 2020
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM: Gretchen Stanford, Interim Customer Connections Deputy Director
Lance Smith, Utilities Strategic Finance Director
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director
RE: Resuming Utility Disconnects on November 13
Bottom Line: The resumption of existing policies concerning the disconnection of services for
non-payment is necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of the utility Enterprise Funds to
meet operational needs, to maintain the confidence of the municipal bond markets and to provide
a means to assist those customers who are struggling financially.
Background: Fort Collins Utilities has not disconnected a customer for non-payment since
March. This has allowed those in our community adversely impacted by COVID-19 to address
other economic challenges. The October 29 memo to the Mayor and City Council outlined the
implementation plan to begin resuming normal business operations around past due utility bills.
At the November 4 City Council meeting, as the rate Ordinances for 2021 were being considered
and then with further discussion under Other Business, there was a request made for a staff
report on what the impacts may be of extending the disconnect moratorium beyond the
Governor’s orders. A presentation will be given at the reconvening of the adjourned November 4
Regular Meeting on November 10 and this memo is intended to provide some context for that
discussion.
Payments for utility services are essential for Fort Collins Utilities to continue delivering reliable
and high-quality electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater services to our community in a
financially sustainable way. The resumption of the existing policy for the disconnection of utility
services for non-payment is an integral part of maintaining the financial resiliency of the utility
Enterprise Funds to meet unforeseen challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the
watershed forest fires that have impacted this community in 2020. The resumption will provide a
more direct path to engaging those customers who have not responded to previous outreach
efforts.
The financial reasons such a policy is necessary for a municipal utility include:
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1. Meeting the revenue requirements necessary to meet operational and maintenance costs
of the utility infrastructure including the wholesale costs associated with the generation
and transmission of electric service from our wholesale provider
2. Maintaining the covenants of existing and future revenue bonds issued by the utility
Enterprise Funds
3. Providing prudent fiscal management, including the effective implementation of financial
policies, to ensure the continued confidence of the bond underwriters and in doing so to
minimize the cost of borrowing capital necessary to meet the 10 year capital
improvements necessary to meet community expectations as to the reliability and quality
of utility services.
The amount of revenue required by each Enterprise Fund to operate, maintain and replace the
infrastructure necessary to provide that utility service is determined through long term financial
planning and the City budgeting process. The amount of uncollectible operating revenue has
grown significantly in 2020 from a more typical annual amount of less than $800,000 to more
than $2.5M through October. The trend shown is unsustainable and would lead to further rate
increases to meet revenue requirements.
There are financial resources available to help our customers with their utility bill, including one-
time CARES funding that must be claimed by eligible customers before December 30.
Customers have received three letters and one postcard since June 2020. In November,
customers will be engaged through another postcard, email, phone calls and a disconnect notice.
Fort Collins Utilities is committed to working with our customers through these challenging
times to establish a payment plan without the interruption of utility services.
DocuSign Envelope ID: B49993CA-027C-4DD1-A613-C3060638A9DF