Utilities
A Trusted Partner for Utilities Managing Critical Water Resources
WestWater Research brings unique perspective to the challenges utilities face, including delivering reliable water amid tightening supplies, rising costs, growing uncertainty, and affordability pressures. With our extensive experience supporting clients in matters of water supply strategy and transaction, we understand every water supply decision a utility makes affects its long-term rates, revenues, and capital plans, and every rate and financing decision shapes what water supply options a utility can afford to pursue.
We work as an extension of your team, bringing deep knowledge of water rights, markets, infrastructure, and utility finance to every engagement. Our services range from individual asset appraisals and rate studies to multi-year strategic and financial planning.
Our Utilities Services Include:
Water Rights & Infrastructure
Appraisals and market consultation reports on water rights, storage, and infrastructure assets, supporting acquisitions, financing, and strategic planning.
Water Supply Transactions & Strategic Planning
Advisory support for water transfers, leases, and acquisitions, plus multi-year planning to strengthen long-term supply reliability.
Demand Analysis & Forecasting
Statistical modeling of water demand to inform supply & demand management, rate studies, system development fee analyses, price elasticity of demand, and long-range financial planning.
Rate Studies & Cost-of-Service Analysis
Development of equitable and defensible rate structures, supported by clear documentation to meet utility objectives, withstand legal scrutiny, and maintain financial sustainability.
Long-Term Financial Planning & Forecasting
Multi-year financial plans to stress test financial performance, evaluate and enhance financial policies, develop long-term financial strategies, and clearly explain the needs of the system to stakeholders.
Capital Investment Planning & Funding Strategies
Evaluation of capital program alternatives and funding options, including debt issuance, grants, developer fees, and reserves, to balance long-term revenue sufficiency with near-term rate impacts.
Financial Feasibility & Business Case Development
Capital project or program alternatives analyses to understand the costs, benefits and tradeoffs of major capital investments through the lens of life-cycle financials through robust and thoughtful analyses for informed decision-making.
Affordability & Customer Assistance Analysis
Geospatial socioeconomic, parcel, and billing data analyses of communities and rate burdens across a service territory, informing the design or enhancement of equitable customer assistance programs or understanding impacts of rate decisions.
Ben Stewart
Our Utility Finance practice is led by Benjamin Stewart, PE, WestWater's California Regional Director.
