Thursday, October 21, 2010

Water scarcity risk in the US municipal bond market

Electric Power News Today: Growing water scarcity in many parts of the United States is a 'hidden risk" for investors who buy the water and electric utility bonds that finance much of the U.S.'s vast public water infrastructure, according to a new report that will be released at 11 a.m. EDT/4 p.m. GMT Thursday (October 21, 2010) on a live-phone based news conference.

Of interest to all bond investors, the report is a first-time look at why investors should be treating water scarcity as a growing credit risk in water and electric utility bonds – and how these risks are currently being ignored by credit rating agencies rating municipal bonds.

The report includes a quantitative model developed by PwC to assess both water and electric utility water risk exposure by comparing their available supplies with projected water demand up to 2030, using stress scenarios that incorporate climate change impacts, regional water conflicts and other potential external risks on water supplies.

The report examines water scarcity risks for specific water utilities in water-stressed regions: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Glendale (AZ), Atlanta and Dallas/Forth Worth. The report also focuses on water scarcity risks for municipally owned electric power utilities, including public utilities serving Los Angeles and southern Alabama/northwest Florida…

A tenantless farm in the Texas Panhandle, 1938

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