Member News

National Association of Water Companies Welcomes Members of the Water Partnership Council

Continues focus on solutions to nation’s critical water and wastewater challenges

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) is being joined by members of the Water Partnership Council (WPC). Since 2001, WPC has represented a diverse group of companies that provide water and wastewater services to nearly 2,000 cities and communities. Now, NAWC and WPC are joining under the NAWC banner to work even more closely together in raising the profile of the array of solutions available to address the challenges facing our nation’s water and wastewater systems.

Both the NAWC and the WPC have long supported policies that more accurately reflect the value of water and ensure that it is managed in the most efficient and effective manner possible. Combining the strengths of the two organizations will bolster NAWC’s ability to address critical issues facing the industry today, including infrastructure planning and management, water infrastructure financing, water and energy efficiency, and water quality standards, among others.

“Our nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems are of vital importance to the country,” said Donald L. Correll, president and chief executive officer of American Water and president of the NAWC board of directors. “It is imperative that like-minded organizations such as NAWC and WPC join forces to address our water infrastructure challenges, and efficiently and effectively meet the demands of a growing population.”

NAWC represents companies of varying sizes, from large, investor-owned utilities to smaller companies that serve towns and small municipal entities. With the addition of WPC members, NAWC will continue representing these interests with a renewed focus on public-private partnerships as solutions to water management challenges.

Members of WPC include: American Water, CH2M HILL OMI, Severn Trent Services, United Water and Veolia Water North America.

Michael Deane, Executive Director

National Association of Water Companies Names Michael Deane Executive Director

The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) Board of Directors today named Michael Deane executive director of the association. In this role, Deane will guide the strategic direction of the organization while overseeing all operations of the association and liaising with NAWC members. After decades of leadership in the water industry working for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and private water companies, Deane recently joined NAWC as deputy executive director and director of strategic development. The announcement of Deane as executive director by the NAWC Board of Directors fills the position vacated by the late Peter Cook.

“Michael brings a wealth of knowledge from his years at EPA and also with private industry,” remarked Donald L. Correll, president and chief executive officer of American Water and president of the NAWC Board of Directors. “Our organization will benefit greatly under his leadership and I believe his expertise will not only keep us moving forward but forge new pathways to bring the best service to NAWC members and those we in turn serve.”

Deane has served in a variety of roles in the water industry throughout his career. He came to NAWC from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most recently serving as associate assistant administrator for water. In this position, Deane was a principal advisor to the EPA administrator and the assistant administrator for water on infrastructure financing matters. Deane also led the EPA’s effort to implement sustainable water management solutions, including water efficiency and green infrastructure initiatives. Deane was responsible for communicating EPA policies and positions to Congress, government agencies, trade and professional associations, private industry and various international organizations. Previously, Deane guided the EPA’s development of sustainable water infrastructure financing and management solutions as senior policy advisor for infrastructure finance. In addition to his previous two posts, Deane held positions in the U.S. EPA Office of Wastewater Management from 1988 to 1995.

“Our nation’s drinking water and wastewater systems are of vital importance to public health, the environment and the economic livelihood of our country,” said Michael Deane, incoming executive director of NAWC. “I look forward to working with NAWC’s members and staff to provide the leadership required to ensure sustainable, market-based solutions for communities as they seek to maintain and improve existing water and wastewater infrastructure, build new infrastructure, and meet new water quality standards.”

American Water CFO Ellen Wolf Named Finalist for CFO of the Year

American Water Works Company Inc. announced today that its senior vice president and CFO, Ellen Wolf, has been named a finalist in the Philadelphia Business Journal’s 2009 CFO of the Year Award program. The CFO of the Year finalists will be recognized, and the winners will be ranked during an awards ceremony and lunch on July 9 at the Sheraton City Center Hotel in Philadelphia. Winners will also be profiled in a special section of the July 10 issue of the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The CFO of the Year Award program celebrates financial professionals in the Delaware Valley for outstanding performance in their roles as corporate financial stewards. One of the areas for which Wolf is recognized in her nomination is helping to lead America Water's compliance efforts as it prepared for what was the second largest IPO in 2008, raising $1.25 billion through the sale of 58 million shares. Beyond leading the finance function for the largest investor-owned water and wastewater service provider, Wolf is noted for serving on several boards including Water For People, a charity dedicated to improving water conditions in developing countries. Wolf was recently selected as a finalist in the NJBIZ CFO of the Year Awards, which are being presented on June 2. She was also recognized by South Jersey Magazine as one of the "Top Business Women" in 2008, which highlights the area's brightest, most inspirational and accomplished women. The CFO of the Year Awards is a program of the Philadelphia Business Journal. For more information on the program, please visit www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia.

Utilities Inc. Appoints New Chief Financial Officer

Utilities Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Jim Japczyk as chief financial officer.

“We are excited about Jim joining Utilities Inc.,” said UI’s President & CEO, Larry Schumacher. “Jim’s knowledge and previous experience should prove to be immediately beneficial to UI. He understands the complexities of heading up the accounting and finance departments for a company our size, and has the appropriate skill set to help move the company forward and achieve its goals. I am looking forward to having Jim as a member of our executive team.”

Jim’s 28 years of financial experience include nine years in the position of CFO for two mid-sized companies in the Chicagoland area. Recently, he led the financial and accounting areas of a private equity-owned business. During this time, he was instrumental in improving the overall financial and operational performance of the business. His expertise includes cash flow analysis and financial modeling while working with several data platforms including our new platform, Oracle. Prior positions as controller and chief accounting officer provided full responsibility for all accounting and financial operations. Jim is a CPA and earned a Masters in business administration from DePaul University.

United Water New Jersey Receives First Rate Increases in More Than 10 Years

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved a rate increase for customers of United Water New Jersey for the first time in more than 10 years. The typical residential customer will see an average increase in their water bill of $4.59 a month, or 15 cents a day. The 15 percent rate increase, effective immediately, will provide United Water with an additional $19.3 million in annual revenues.

The primary reason the company filed for the rate relief was to recoup its $240 million investment in capital improvements for a variety of water quality and water supply projects during the last decade.

“Over the last 10 years, we made major improvements to our water system,” said Bob Iacullo, chief operating officer for United Water. “Some of these included post-911 security upgrades to our Haworth Water Treatment Plant and Oradell Dam. We also upgraded computer systems, installed equipment at the Oradell Reservoir to help reduce taste and odor complaints, and made improvements to our water transmission and distribution mains to enhance service reliability.”

Another reason for the rate filing, Iacullo said, was due to substantial increases in the company’s costs for power, chemicals, purchased water, real estate taxes, insurance and employee health care.

Iacullo explained that United Water is continuing its efforts to stay ahead of increasingly stringent state and federal water quality standards. During the next three years, the company will invest more than $100 million to upgrade its Haworth Water Treatment Plant, which was one of the first in the nation to use ozone as a primary disinfectant for treating water. The upgrade will add a Dissolved Air Flotation process to help further improve water quality.

In addition to the rate increase, the BPU also approved the company’s request to merge four of its small water utilities into United Water New Jersey. As a result, its operating companies in Lambertville, Arlington Hills, Vernon Hills and Hampton will adopt the United Water New Jersey name and rate structure.

Protecting a Precious Resource: Cub Scouts Learn about Water Conservation through Artesian Water Program

When Cub Scout Pack 205 of Newark, Del., participated in the 18th annual Christina River Watershed Cleanup on April 18 at the Churchmans Marsh, Christina site, the scouts not only earned Cub Scout patches, they also learned about water conservation, thanks to an educational program conducted by Artesian Water, an 18-year sponsor of the cleanup. An abbreviated version of Artesian’s Water Conservation Education Program was presented to the scouts by Nancy Parker, an Artesian retiree.

Since the Christina River Watershed Cleanup began in 1992, more than 300 tons of tires, appliances, household items, and uncountable pieces of plastic and Styrofoam have been cleared from the watershed. About 20 members of Pack 205, boys ages 6 to 13, on a quest to earn the Cub Scout Conservation Good Turn Award, joined more than 200 other volunteers at the Churchmans Marsh site. According to Joanne Rufft, director of community relations and environmental initiatives for Artesian, the company enhanced the project at its site this year by adding two dumpsters, donated by Waste Management Inc., so that recyclables could be separated from other types of debris.

Over the last 18 years, the cleanup, which also covers White Clay Creek State Park, the City of Wilmington, Dayette Mills and various other locations throughout the watershed, has attracted more than 10,000 volunteers. Artesian’s Water Conservation Education Program, designed in cooperation with the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, focuses on what children can do to protect and preserve the environment and water, the earth’s most precious resource.

American States Water Company Completes Public Offering of Common Shares

American States Water Company announced that it has completed an underwritten public offering of 1,150,000 shares of its common stock, including 150,000 shares issued upon exercise of an option granted to the underwriters to cover over-allotments, at a price per share of $31.00 to the public. The net proceeds from the offering were $34.2 million, after deductions of underwriting commissions and discounts. The company intends to use the proceeds of the offering to repay short-term debt.

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC served as sole book-runner and lead manager for the offering. Edward D. Jones & Co. L.P. and Brean Murray, Carret & Co. LLC served as co-managers. Copies of the final prospectus supplement and the prospectus related to the offering can be obtained by contacting Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, 60 State St., 35th Floor, Boston, MA 02109, Attention: Equity Syndicate Department or prospectus@jmsonline.com.

David Little of Ohio American Water Elected President of Ohio Chapter of NAWC

David K. Little, president of Ohio American Water, was elected president of the National Association of Water Companies Ohio Chapter at its annual meeting on May 12.

Little has more than 31 years of experience in the management, planning, design, construction and emergency operations of a water utility. He joined Ohio American Water’s Marion District in1978 as a meter reader and through the years has worked in many positions, including as a maintenance man, relief operator and treatment plant operator. In 1985, he was promoted to customer service supervisor. He has also held management positions in Ohio American Water’s Tiffin District and Indiana American Water’s Richmond District. Little became president of Ohio American Water in 2007.

Little is an active member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Marion Can-Do, which promotes economic growth in Marion, and Ohio GATE, which aims to forge effective working relationships that promote and enhance business opportunities between diverse businesses and regulated utilities in the state of Ohio. He is also an instructor for the Operators Training Committee of Ohio (OTCO), which works in conjunction with the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Ohio Department of Health and nonprofit environmental organizations to provide training and certification for water and wastewater operators in Ohio.

Connecticut Water Service Inc. Elects Directors

Shareholders of Connecticut Water Service Inc. elected a slate of three directors and ratified the Audit Committee’s selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditors for 2009, at the company’s annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 13in Westbrook, Conn.

Re-elected to the nine-member board were Lisa J. Thibdaue, vice president of regulatory and government affairs of Northeast Utilities, Carol P. Wallace, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cooper-Atkins Corporation, and Donald B. Wilbur, retired plant manager of Unilever HPC, USA.

Eric W. Thornburg, Connecticut Water’s chairman, president and CEO, said, “Our board has broad experience in regulatory, financial and executive management. The directors have been invaluable to me as Connecticut Water builds shareholder value by providing high quality water, delivering world-class customer service, building a work culture that rewards performance, and growing the company through prudent acquisitions.”