Waterworks board wants outside review of mayor’s utility plan
The waterworks board’s plan to hire outside consultants to study the proposed sale of Indianapolis Water could delay the deal.
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City flush with energy-saving ideas for building
City-County Building energy-efficiency upgrades are set to be unveiled Tuesday afternoon. The nearly 50-year old landmark is the centerpiece of the city's greener-building initiative.
City approval of Citizens Energy deal could come in May
Citizens Energy should have completed the majority of its due diligence of the city’s water and sewer utilities, which
it plans to acquire, by the end of this month.
Ballard mimics Major Moves infrastructure-improvement plan
So far, in discussing his plan to sell the city’s water and sewer utilities, Mayor Greg Ballard has
emphasized the impact on utility rates, the $1.5 billion in city debt Citizens would assume, and the chance
to improve streets and sidewalks. But Ballard also has another key objective: business attraction and
expansion.
City utility deal treads in murky waters
A $1.9 billion proposal to sell the city’s water and sewer utilities splashed into public view last month, but some
financial details settling at the bottom line could make the deal harder to swallow.
Department of Waterworks chief to address canal concerns
Matthew Klein has agreed to serve on a panel discussion concerning the canal: “Indy’s Central Canal—public
resource
or private pipeline?” during the Indiana University Law Environmental Symposium, April 1 at IUPUI’s Inlow Hall.
Citizens says buying water, sewer systems won’t harm bond rating
Citizens Energy Group’s plan to buy the city’s water and sewer systems will require the utility to raise $262 million in new
bond debt and inherit $1.5 billion in debt. Yet Citizens executives maintain the financial load should not impair the bond
ratings of its principal utilities, Citizens Gas and Citizens Thermal.
Official: Promised rate reduction key in $1.9B city water, sewer deal
Cost savings from combining three utilities helped give Citizens Energy Group an advantage in the deal to take over Indianapolis’
water and sewer operations, said Michael Huber, the city’s director of enterprise development.
Citizens Energy to take over city’s water, sewer utilities
The agreement is expected to generate more than $425 million in funding for local infrastructure improvements, and Citizens
has agreed to assume $1.5 billion in debt associated with the utilities.
Bottled-water company ramps up production in Plainfield
Niagara Bottling LLC recently hired 55 for its plant on Whitaker Road, which will make half-liter bottles of purified municipal
tap water.
City tries to raise cash by privatizing operations
Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard pulled out his predecessor Steve Goldsmith’s Republican playbook and began exploring a host
of privatization proposals in an effort to save money.
Groups want feds to act on Indiana water rules
Environmental activists who are upset about Indiana’s water-pollution rules say they’ll ask the federal government to take
action against the state.
Carmel buying 12 acres for new well field
The city of Carmel has agreed to buy about 12 acres adjacent to the Mansion at Oak Hill for a new well field.
Advisory panel urges EPA to back plan to pay for green projects via property tax
By issuing “voluntary environmental improvement bonds,”, local and state governments could
create special taxing districts that finance homeowner purchases of everything from solar panels to rain
gardens.
Companies reap rewards on irrigation investments
Mike’s Express Carwash uses a lot of water. There’s just no getting around it. So when automated systems engineer
Ryan Binkley looked for ways to conserve resources, he focused on the company’s irrigation systems.
Drugs in our water
Researchers are finding a host of pharmaceutical residues in tributaries to the White River, from which Indianapolis and other
cities draw drinking water.
Consultant: Indianapolis water utility lax in overseeing Veolia
The city too often relied on the Department of Waterworks’ board, on consultants and on the private
operator, Veolia Water, rather than on the department’s own staff “to ensure safe and efficient
operation, maintenance and management” of Indianapolis Water. That’s one of several critical
findings of a consultant hired by the department and filed as part of a 35-percent rate-hike request
pending before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission.
American Water wants to raise rates
The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor is seeking public input on a proposed rate hike by American Water Inc.,
which has 283,000 customers in the state, including in Noblesville and Greenwood.
City receives host of sale, privatization ideas for water, sewer utilities
Officials grappling with a water utility deep in debt and a sewer infrastructure needing upwards of $2 billion in
upgrades were swamped with proposals about how to fix the mess.
Hotel water plan is wasteful
I would like to take exception to the topic and the quote in [Scott] Olson’s article in the Sept. 21 IBJ regarding
the de-watering system planned for the new Marriott Hotel.