\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe city of Georgetown is closer to finalizing the sale of the majority of its water service territory following a $60 million agreement with National Utility Infrastructure on Feb. 10.<\/p>\n
Voters will need to approve the sale in a May election before the agreement can be finalized.<\/p>\n
The details<\/p>\n
National Utility Infrastructure plans to buy the majority of the certificate of convenience and necessity, or CCN, which is the geographical area in which an organization is required to provide water service.<\/p>\n
The sale includes portions of Georgetown’s CCN within Salado, Florence and Liberty Hill. The cities of Killeen and Jarrell are moving forward with purchasing their water territories, respectively.<\/p>\n
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City staff recommended National Utility Infrastructure as the top proposer based on the following criteria, according to city documents:<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s experience and qualificationsThe ability to provide continuous, adequate serviceThe company\u2019s access to water or plan to import waterThe proposed water system modification planFair compensationThe city will use the sale to pay off $20 million in debt for the water territory, Georgetown Strategic Project Manager Caroline Stewart said.<\/p>\n
Why now?<\/p>\n
Currently, 40% of Georgetown\u2019s CCN customers live outside the 174-square-mile area of the city and its ETJ<\/a>. Georgetown\u2019s CCN spans a total of 400 square miles.<\/p>\n By selling the water territory outside of city limits and the ETJ, the city can reduce risk from outside development, decrease the burden on Georgetown taxpayers, and better account for growing water demand, Stewart said at an Aug. 26<\/a> meeting.<\/p>\n