Municipal Utility Research Articles

Управление рисками монопрофильных поселений в рамках фрактального подхода

The article presents the results of the author’s study of single-industry territories within the framework of the fractal approach. The relevance of the researching is since the risk management of mono-profile is one of the most important elements of differentiated management impact on the socio-economic system of the territory to ensure its harmonious development. The aim of the work is to assess the risks of single-industry using elements of a fractal approach to the study of the social and economic space of mono-territories. The methodological basis for the application of the fractal approach is based not on a geometric cut, but on its structural and semantic content. This assumption also considers the significant nonlinearity of development processes and environmental influences in socio-economic systems. In this context, the researching is presented as a generator of scientific novelty. This formed the basis for the fractal grouping of single-industry territories of the Chelyabinsk region. During the research, fractal properties of socio-economic systems were identified, such as hierarchical certainty; self-similarity/presence of an element that repeats itself on a decreasing scale; unevenness/fragmentation; intersection of different fractal models in the socio-economic space; the presence of multiple control centers; openness. This researching confirms that the high risks of socio-economic development of a single-industry settlement are caused not only by the formation of a poorly diversified local labor market, but also by the strong dependence of the municipal utilities on the infrastructure facilities of the main city-forming enterprise, and the municipal budget on tax and non-tax revenues of the city-forming enterprise. To analyze the risk component, the work compared the level of employment in large and medium-sized enterprises with indicators of small business development, which was assessed based on the turnover indicator of small and medium-sized enterprises. The learning of the risks of single-industry allowed dividing the single-industry towns of the Chelyabinsk region into 3 groups, each of which is described from the standpoint of the availability of resources for diversifying the socio-economic system and choosing priority areas for development. In addition, the results of the study of single-industry settlements in the Chelyabinsk region actualize the need to transform the space of the territory through changes in the localization nature and fractal properties of the economic and social environment. The continuation of the researching is implemented in the algorithmization of the process of diversification of single-industry territories, contributing to the growth of its competitive advantages, and, consequently, capacity building.

СУЧАСНИЙ СТАН, ПРОБЛЕМИ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ ОБЛІКУ РОЗРАХУНКІВ ЗА ПОДАТКАМИ ТА ПЛАТЕЖАМИ НЕКОМЕРЦІЙНИХ КОМУНАЛЬНИХ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ – ЗАКЛАДІВ ОХОРОНИ ЗДОРОВ’Я

All non-profit enterprises will differ on the signs of non-profit and peculiarities of taxation. The article analyzes the features of non-profit municipal utilities – health facilities as subjects of taxation and the problem aspects of the organization and methodology of accounting of settlements with the budget for taxes and payments of transformed non-profit (non-profit) utilities – health care institutions. The purpose of the article is to establish the peculiarities of accounting for calculations with the budget for tax payments of communal non-profit enterprises in the field of health care and substantiation of its optimization directions. The method of research is based on general scientific methods of knowledge: historical, logical, systemic, induction, deduction, analysis, synthesis; Methods of statistical data processing, classification, and grouping. Non-profit (nonprofit) utilities in the field of health care as tax subjects have a significant difference: when they are created, it is necessary to ensure the profitability of activities. Such medical facilities are not taxpayers. It is expedient to consider exemption from payment of income tax as a type of targeted financing and reflection in the reporting of such communal non-profit enterprises accrual of income tax and its direction for targeted financing. Features of the activity and availability of its varieties in relation to VAT tax should be taken into account both in the formation of internal regulations on accounting policies, and when working out other organizational aspects of accounting for calculations with the budget of communal non-profit enterprises. At the normative level there is no regulation of accounting for calculations with the budget with the VAT, which on the one hand is a manifestation of democratization of regulation, and on the other hand, the problem is amplified for communal non-profit enterprises for which there are complications when accounting as business entities that were transformed from the budget. In order to meet the needs of the tax consequences and assembly of tax reporting, it is necessary for communal non-profit enterprises of VAT payers substantially deepen the analyst and to adopt organizational decisions as part of the development of the working plan of accounts and presented balances on analytical accounts for calculations with the VAT budget. For such enterprises at the level of departmental regulation of accounting and reporting by communal non-profit enterprises, it is advisable to develop targeted methodological recommendations, which is a prospect of further research. The emphasis on problematic aspects of the interpretation of the status of non-profitability and the need for accounting for activities as business entities that are transformed from budget health facilities. The organizational and methodological features of accounting for calculations with the budget for various taxes and payments are highlighted, in accordance with the features; recommendations for optimizing the organization of accounting are substantiated.

ЕКОНОМІЧНІ ПЕРЕВАГИ КОНСТРУКЦІЙ БУДОВИ ТРАМВАЙНИХ КОЛІЙ

The development of urban public transport, and its essential part – tram enterprises – is no exception, is ensured by identifying and solving problems of a practical nature, the main of which the limited financial resources of municipal utilities is the most important. Municipal councils of Ukrainian cities where there is public transport are interested in reducing the cost of maintaining these enterprises. One of the ways to overcome financial dependence in the current situation is to reduce the current costs of maintaining tram lines. For this, tram tracks must become more resistant to the difficult conditions of their exploitation. Ballastless track technologies for the construction / reconstruction of tram tracks is an innovative project for our country, the implementation of which can significantly increase the economic performance of tram municipal enterprises. The article describes several of the most common ballastless track technologies for installing tram tracks, which have positively proven themselves during exploitation in various countries of the world, including Ukraine. Although the installation of tram tracks according to the classical (ballast) technology is a less time-consuming process, but progressive (ballastless) technologies have undoubted economic advantages - durability, preservation from destruction of both the track itself and the rolling stock moving along it, and great savings in maintenance costs. In addition, such structures provide for the ability of tram tracks to resist increasing travel speeds and increasing load on tram rails with constantly growing traffic intensity. They are more environmentally friendly: they create much less noise and vibration, prevent the propagation of stray currents and so forth. What is especially important is their proven undoubted positive impact on traffic safety. All of these advantages increase the quality of transport services for the population. The international experience of the functioning of tram systems moving on ballastless tracks suggests a significant positive economic and social effect from their practical application.

Potential Energy, Demand, Emissions, and Cost Savings Distributions for Buildings in a Utility’s Service Area

Several companies, universities, and national laboratories are developing urban-scale energy modeling that allows the creation of a digital twin of buildings for the simulation and optimization of real-world, city-sized areas. Prior to simulation-based assessment, a baseline of savings for a set of utility-defined use cases was established to clarify the initial business case for specific energy efficient building technologies. In partnership with a municipal utility, 178,337 OpenStudio and EnergyPlus models of buildings in the utility’s 1400 km2 service area were created, simulated, and assessed with measures for quantifying energy, demand, cost, and emissions reductions of each building. The method of construction and assumptions behind these models is discussed, definitions of example measures are provided, and distribution of savings across the building stock is provided under a maximum technical adoption scenario.

Storage Technologies for the Electricity Transition: An Analysis of Actors, Actor Perspectives and Transition Pathways in Germany

This article analyses actors in the storage niche during the German electricity transition. Thus, we develop a more differentiated understanding of actors and their storage activities. For that, we employ the analytical multi-level-perspective (MLP) framework to focus on interactions between old and new storage technologies. Using data from expert interviews, we investigate whether the storage pathway resembles any of the four ideal types of transition pathways for interactions between niche and regime. Through our interviews, we identify five types of actor in the storage market: Big 4 (EnBW, RWE, E.ON, Vattenfall), project developers, innovative municipal utilities, small rural municipal utilities and independent green electricity providers. For each actor, we analyse four main aspects (1) previous orientation and motivation, (2) structural strategies, (3) institutional strategies, and (4) product-related strategies. Parallel to the classification of actors, we also classify available storage technologies according to their primary field of application. We conclude that interactions between regime and niche actors are cooperative, but weak, and no specific actor type currently dominates the niche activities. Hence, applications in the storage niche are not yet ready for a larger market. In sum, our results point to a future system that is characterized by reconfiguration, not substitution or transformation of current market actors.

Value of a made-in-Ontario management system standard for municipal wastewater and stormwater utilities

Abstract This paper builds on previous research to address the question of whether there is practical value for a made-in-Ontario municipal management system standard (MSS) for wastewater and stormwater related activities, in addition to the Drinking Water Quality Management System Standard (DWQMS) that is already statutorily required. This research specifically addressed the questions: is there value in a mandatory or voluntary MSS; are there neutral, positive, or negative effects of having an MSS; and what standard is more adequate? Through a focus group method, this research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value an MSS in assisting municipalities in meeting their environmental objectives, addressing property damage risks, providing an additional mechanism of public accountability, and improving alignment with the legal structure. It was also apparent that there is no political appetite in the provincial government to embark on a mandated MSS, so the preferred option at this time appears to be a provincially endorsed, voluntary, sector-specific standard for wastewater and for stormwater, which could constitute a catalyst to boost voluntary uptake of MSS by small to medium municipalities (as is already occurring with large municipalities). This standard could be based on a customized variation of the ISO 14001 and DWQMS.

Applications of Metal Organic Frameworks in Wastewater Treatment: A Review on Adsorption and Photodegradation

The growing accumulation of emerging contaminants in the environment can cause direct and indirect water pollution that puts human lives at risk. The fact that these contaminants are not or cannot be eliminated from the municipal water utilities, poses a significant concern. Researchers are currently pulling massive attention to improve existing technologies, develop new strategies and provide environmentally and durable solutions to mitigate water contamination problems. Adsorption and photodegradation are two of the most sustainable technologies that are used in water purification. These technologies have many advantages because of the economic, simple and easily operated designs needed to treat wastewater. Within these applications, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are playing a significant role as novel class of porous materials characterized by a crystalline structure. MOFs are considered good candidates to be employed in wastewater treatment technologies because of the tunability of their features. The scope of this review article is to provide a comprehensive description of the recent studies published in the literature about the adsorptive and photocatalytic use of MOFs for the removal of organic emerging contaminants from wastewater. Furthermore, this study briefly highlights the synthesis technologies of MOFs. Finally, future perspective, and challenges associated with MOFs large scale production are discussed.

Green and regional? A multi-criteria assessment framework for the provision of green electricity for electric vehicles in Germany

Based on economic and ecological criteria this paper proposes an evaluation framework for the provision of green electricity for charging plug-in electric vehicles in Germany, using the Analytic Hierarchy Process approach for a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. The framework allows for a transparent evaluation of the supply of green electricity for electric vehicles from different stakeholder perspectives, without the direct involvement and reassessment by the experts. The relevant criteria for the evaluation are derived from literature, an analysis of eco-labels for electricity tariffs, and 33 expert interviews from four different stakeholder groups (municipal utilities, academia and science, non-governmental organizations, and automobile manufacturers). Eight criteria have been found to be particularly relevant for green electricity service evaluation: regionality, transparency, balancing period, additionality, land use, greenhouse gas emissions, smart charging (via a flexibility discount), and quality premium. The evaluation framework comprises value scores, which represent the degree to which a specific green charging service satisfies a given quality criterion, and combines them with the weights derived in the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The results differ markedly between stakeholder groups and point to the particular importance of additionality, technology-specific greenhouse gas emissions, and transparency. The framework seems useful for service design by (municipal) utilities, charge point operators, non-governmental organizations, and aggregators offering smart charging solutions.

Mind the Gap: Management System Standards Addressing the Gap for Ontario’s Municipal Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Ecosystem of Regulations

The research finds evidence in support of and wide recognition of the practical value of management system standards (MSS) by assisting municipalities in meeting their human health protection, environmental objectives, addressing environmental and property damage risks, and providing an additional mechanism of public accountability and transparency. Semi-structured interviews were applied to assess perceptions with practitioners and environmental non-governmental organizations on whether a similar approach to the legally required drinking water quality management standard (DWQMS) could be applied for the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors. Twelve Ontario municipalities have adopted or are in the process of adopting an ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS) standard for their wastewater and/or stormwater systems, which represents 66% of Ontario’s population. With the large urban centres (e.g., Toronto, York Region, Durham Region, Halton Region and Peel Region) adopting the standard, this is likely to influence small to medium-sized cities to follow a similar approach. Although, resources might be a factor preventing the cohort of smaller utilities voluntarily taking this path. Regulations governing Ontario’s municipal drinking water, wastewater and stormwater utilities were compared via gap analysis. Gaps on management of the system, performance monitoring, auditing and having minimum design criteria left the municipal wastewater and stormwater sectors behind in comparison with recently updated (2004–2008) regulatory framework for the drinking water sector. Based on the identification and review of significant gaps in wastewater and stormwater regulation (compared with the drinking water sector), environmental MSS should be incorporated to strengthen the regulatory framework of these sectors. These phenomena also depict a form of sustainable governance with the use of MSS, which are initiated, developed and regulated by non-state actors, recognizing the value of non-state rule instruments in the water, wastewater and stormwater sectors.

Автоматизована система сортування та збору

The article describes a model of automated sorting and garbage collection that can be integrated into a smart city system. The structure is divided into several levels: the level of the garbage can, the city level, the level of the processing plant. At the first level, the author describes the principle of the work of automated garbage containers, focusing on their construction. This includes container’s workflow, list of components, like sensors, connectors, batteries etc. The next level includes a garbage collection structure in the city and software designed to optimize these processes. Also, municipal utilities interaction andpossible economy criteria are pointed on this level. The last level describes the workflow and the proper design of the waste sorting and recycling plant. It includes the description of the idea about how robots and AI (artificial intelligence) software can help with sorting different kinds of garbage. The author also lists the benefits of using the aforementioned automated system. Ref. 3, pic. 2

What is environmental racism for? Place-based harm and relational development

This paper argues that observed environmental racisms are instrumental to the development of white places. Rather than limiting the view of environmental harms to Black communities as spatial violence enacted via white NIMBYism, we argue that such spoilage is what produces white places. We call this process ‘creative extraction,’ the taking of resources from Black places to invest in white places. Those resources range from regressive sales tax revenues to water and sewer infrastructure to land devalued through waste disposal. Creative extraction involves seemingly unconnected actors reinforcing mutual interest in white spatial control and placemaking. Drawing on our case study of Montgomery County, Texas, we show how development, infrastructure, and environmental harm are intimately linked through legal and political contestation, and resource redistribution. We focus on Texas’ mechanism for creating new water infrastructure through ‘Municipal Utility Districts’ to illustrate how apolicy can create literal and symbolic boundaries to enable overdevelopment and underdevelopment. Our proposed vantage point on the relationship between communities can improve future research on both environmental racism and ‘the city’.

Municipal Utilities and COVID-19: Challenges, Responses, and Collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic has put pressure on essential public services. While much of the economy has been shut down, essential public services have continued. Using professional experience, publicly available information, and interviews with two municipal utility managers, we evaluate the challenges presented to municipal utility services by the COVID-19 pandemic and explore some of the responses by utilities to the pandemic. Specifically, we focus on the strategies utilities have used to keep employees safe from the virus and plans for workforce shortages. One important strategy we identify is reliance on mutual aid agreements, where utilities agree to send staff and equipment to other utilities in times of crisis. We also explore the role of a municipal utility association in coordinating response. The case of utility response to COVID-19 carries important potential implications for both public administration practice and research.

Evaluation Urban Utility Of Water System In Merauke City

In the existing utility services in the Merauke district in the form of clean water sanitation, optimally take place notes. The Lack of Management, Service and Maintenance of Government Affected Municipal Utilities in Merauke. Not to the optimal creation of utility Merauke City is also a problem of clean water utility grid systems in the town of Merauke. On rainy season in Merauke city residents rely on rainwater as a source of clean water. If the dry season is often difficult to get clean water. This study evaluates pre-existing conditions, then analyze and make plan water networks. It aims to improve the conditions and quality of service provision of clean water for city dwellers. The results of this study (1) Networks clean water, has not been even distributed and not yet implemented the maximum care. (2) Before the clean water distribution lines, maintenance on the water network pipes and water filtration devices that are eligible for immediate drinking. (3) Before the location of water sources, water treatment plans, reservoir and pipeline supply networks (see Figure 10), which occur in the even distribution of the optimal distribution.

Entry threats from municipal broadband Internet and impacts on private provider quality

Deploying municipally-run broadband Internet to deliver high-speed access is an increasingly popular idea among local communities. These public networks often operate alongside private incumbent networks and may have substantial effects on the competitive landscape. This research design exploits variation in cities that have a municipal electric utility (MEU), which reduces barriers to entry for municipal providers, and state-level regulation, which restricts public entry into broadband markets. Using these market differences, I investigate whether incumbents offer higher speeds to deter public entry or underinvest in speed due to crowding out. Estimates indicate that the presence of an MEU is associated with lower maximum upload and download speeds offered by private cable and DSL providers. In states where municipal entry is made more difficult by regulation, these effects disappear. Therefore, restrictive regulation of municipal broadband has a non-trivial effect on competition. Negative effects are reduced in communities with lower or less dense populations.

Two-parametric game-theoretic model of concession in communal heating

In this study, we propose to model the operation of a service concession arrangement in the economic area of municipal heat supply utilities. We offer a scheme of interaction between the concedent and concessionaire in this concessionary arrangement. Currently, the existing regulations regarding the temperature of coolant focusses on the daily average outdoor temperature, and the determination of a “normative” demand for heat energy. On any day of the heating period, this demand is a random variable, whose distribution can be described through the distribution of daily average air temperature.
 In our model, heat energy is paid for at a fixed price, and the concessionaire pays a penalty for each unit of unsatisfied normative demand. The price and penalty values are the concession parameters, and are determined by the concedent. The concedent’s goal is to minimise the thermal energy cost; the concessionaire’s purpose is to maximise profit. The interaction is formalised as a two-move game model. First, the concedent determines the price and the value of the penalty. Then the concessionaire selects the capacity to be created. The concession’s parameters should be set so that the individual rationality and incentive compatibility conditions are met.
 Our results prove the existence of Stackelberg equilibrium, and we derive the relevant formulas for computing its parameters. In equilibrium, the optimum capacity for the concessionaire provides a sufficient probability of meeting demand. The price of thermal energy is minimal under this condition. We also formulate a one-parameter model (thermal energy price as a parameter), which is based on a typical concession scheme. In the two-parameter model, the equilibrium capacity and price do not exceed the corresponding parameters of the one-parameter model. The main advantage of the two-parameter model is an “embedded” economic mechanism that prevents the concessionaire’s opportunistic behaviour. By contrast, in the one-parameter model there is no such mechanism.
 The proposed approach can be applied to a concession for the production of any good or service, provided the concerned parties are interested in the availability and reliability of meeting a corresponding need, which may be described as a random variable. However, typical concession schemes do not penalise unsatisfied demand, so the implementation of our two-parametric model is possible only after modification of the pertinent concession legislation.

Municipal utilities and electric cooperatives in the United States: Interpretive frames, strategic actions, and place-specific transitions

Renewable energy and social justice advocates are organizing around the potential for community-based democratic organizations to promote more decentralized, sustainable, and just societies. Within this movement, consumer-owned electric utilities are often seen as central actors. Yet, there has been little systematic investigation into why integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) varies across these utilities. We explore this question using literature on sustainability transitions and strategic action fields. Choices about when and how to integrate DERs are shaped by new interpretations of long-standing principles, existing institutional relationships, and a utility’s political power. We identify how four divergent strategies shape distinct technology configurations with differences in physical scale, concentration of political authority, and distribution of economic benefits. These differences suggest that local technology ownership may not be sufficient to motivate change in some contexts. Policy addressing political processes and ownership scale may be needed to accelerate more sustainable and just energy transitions.

Knowledge Transfer in Municipal Water and Wastewater Organizations

Municipal water and wastewater utility systems are experiencing several issues related to an aging workforce. Of particular importance, is the technical knowledge drain generated when the experienced operational workforce retires. It is important to transfer their knowledge into the organization for the future success of system operability. Recent investigations highlight the importance of, and the methods for, knowledge transfer, however, the current literature does not include significant information on the municipal utility industry. The objective of this descriptive research is to assess how municipal utility organizations transfer their operational knowledge. A qualitative case study research approach was used to evaluate operational knowledge transfer in six municipal utility organizations. The results indicate that five methods are commonly used in municipal utility organizations; however, there are some methods that are used more than others depending on the operational learning situation. Engineering managers can use this paper as a guide in the design of custom knowledge management programs in municipal utility organizations. These results can inform future investigations in the areas of knowledge management and knowledge transfer.

Municipal Solid Waste and Utility Consumption in Taiwan

In Taiwan, 3,130,735 t of refuse for disposal and 4,113,808 t of recycled recyclable waste were generated in 2017. The government of Taiwan has been actively promoting a resource recycling program since July 1998. To pursue sustainability and locate waste minimization opportunities, the correlation between utility consumption and population and the quantity of refuse and recyclable waste from municipalities in Taiwan was studied. There are six special municipalities and 16 cities and counties covering a great variety of urbanization and settlement characteristics, such as registered populations, electricity, and water consumption. The above parameters of the municipalities were correlated with the quantities of refuse and recycled urban waste. Residential electricity consumption, overall population, and business electricity consumption were found to be major parameters correlating the generation of refuse and recycled urban waste. Due to their higher levels of business activities, the waste generation behaviours of these six special municipalities are more diverse than those of the 16 municipalities. Due to the discrepancy of the registered population system, the utility consumption values within administrative boundaries can better predict municipal solid waste, (MSW) generation than utility consumption at a per capita. Utility consumption within administrative boundaries is more convenient as a measure to predict refuse and recycled urban waste than other complex social–economic indicators.

Charging Ahead: Prepaid Metering, Electricity Use, and Utility Revenue

Monthly bills for services such as electricity often go unpaid in developing countries. Prepaid meters offer a potential technological solution. In Cape Town, South Africa, over 4,000 residential customers on monthly billing were switched to prepaid metering, with random variation in the timing of the switch. In response, electricity use falls by 14 percent, driven at least in part by an increase in marginal price sensitivity. The decrease in revenue to the municipal electric utility is more than offset by lower revenue recovery costs. Switching poorer and more in-debt customers generates the greatest net revenue gains to the utility. (JEL L94, L98, O13, Q41, Q48)

Attitudes, preferences, and intentions of German households concerning participation in peer-to-peer electricity trading

Based on a survey among customers of seven German municipal utilities, we estimate two regression models to identify the most prospective customer segments and their preferences and motivations for participating in peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading and develop implications for decision-makers in the energy sector and policy-makers for this currently relatively unknown product. Our results show a large general openness of private households towards P2P electricity trading, which is also the main predictor of respondents' intention to participate. It is mainly influenced by individuals’ environmental attitude, technical interest, and independence aspiration. Respondents with the highest willingness to participate in P2P electricity trading are mainly motivated by the ability to share electricity, and to a lesser extent by economic reasons. They also have stronger preferences for innovative pricing schemes (service bundles, time-of-use tariffs). Differences between individuals can be observed depending on their current ownership (prosumers) or installation probability of a microgeneration unit (consumers, planners). Rather than current prosumers, especially planners willing to install microgeneration in the foreseeable future are considered to be the most promising target group for P2P electricity trading. Finally, our results indicate that P2P electricity trading could be a promising niche option in the German energy transition.