Tools

Sample Tools Developed by the UNC EFC

• Rates Dashboards for NC & GA Water and Wastewater Utilities
• Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Tool for Water and Wastewater Utilities
• Revolving Fund Model
• Loan Assistance Program
• Rates Analysis Model
• Stormwater Model Ordinance for NC Local Governments
• Annual Car Cost and Carbon Calculator
• Waste Origins for Private Landfills in North Carolina
• Other tools

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Rates Dashboards for NC and GA Water and Wastewater Utilities

• Compare user rates for water and wastewater utilities in North Carolina and Georgia
• Analyze rates alongside key financial performance indicators, system characteristics, customer base socioeconomics and conservation price signaling
• Compare user rates for various levels of consumption
• Track how utility bills have changed since 1986 (NC only)

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User-friendly Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Tool for Water & Wastewater Utilities
Download User-friendly CIP Tool (xls, 454 KB) - Tool with Example Data (xls, 451 KB)
Easy-to-understand predictions on:

• Financial reserves
• Rate increases
• Capital Investment

How to use the CIP tool:
Start by entering basic information on a utility’s rate structure and customer base. Then, enter items from the utility’s CIP, choose project start dates, and select a financing method for each project. The tool will calculate annual rate increases necessary to cover capital reserve allocations and debt service over a 20-year planning period. Results are displayed in tables and easy-to-read graphics.

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Revolving Fund Model (xls, 93 KB)
Help with:

• Planning a system upgrade or capital improvement project
• Providing loans to individual system users
• Borrowing at a low rate (i.e. SRF loan) and passing this advantage on to your users
• Mixing different funding sources

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Loan Analysis Program (xls, 51 KB)
This tool can help you with:

• Finance your next project with a loan
• Determine the cost for each user
• Compare different loan terms

As inputs, the model needs a loan amount, period, interest rate, and number of users (or connections). The output of the model is the annual cost for each user, for either declining or equal payments.

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Rates Analysis Model (xls, 74 KB)

• Easy-to-use, simplified cash flow model
• Input current rates, number of accounts, growth rate, average consumption, expenses
• Adjust rates
• Computes net profit/losses for multiple years

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Stormwater Model Ordinance for NC Local Governments

• Template for the basic requirements of Phase II
• Commentary providing context for its various provisions
• Analytical framework by which each local government may develop a unique and comprehensive program appropriate

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Annual Car Costs and Carbon Calculator
This tool can help you choose and analyze fleet vehicles based on cost and carbon output.
You will need Adobe Flash Player 9 or later to view this dashboard. Get Flash

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Waste Origins for Private Landfills in North Carolina
This tool allows you to view the flow of trash to and the estmiated capacity of private lanfills in the state. (Click on blue stars to watch the transfer.)
You will need Adobe Flash Player 9 or later to view this dashboard. Get Flash

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Other Tools

• EFC at Boise State University
• EFC at University of Maine
• EPA's Financing Alternatives Comparison Tool (FACT)
• 25 Questions for Assessing Your Water System's Financial Health