Award Winners
Chesterfield Utilities
2004 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Chesterfield Utilities today continues the Total Quality Initiative (TQI) it initiated in 1992. The TQI includes strategic planning, team problem solving, process management, performance based measurement, staff development, and rewards and recognition, all of which have positioned Chesterfield to easily implement competitiveness strategies as they have evolved in recent years. Chesterfield Utilities' efforts have allowed user charges to remain relatively low while at the same time achieving higher levels of customer satisfaction. The utility also established a Rate Stabilization Reserve Fund to assure funding for infrastructure replacement in the future. The rate-setting model incorporates operating and capital improvement budgets, rate stabilization reserve funding for the next 10 years and bond covenant requirements. This approach avoids significant rate increases in a particular budget year. In 2002, Chesterfield Utilities' enhanced financial position was recognized when its bond rating was raised from AA to AAA by the three primary rating agencies, one of only two joint water/wastewater utilities in the nation to achieve this status. Fitch Ratings commented, "The county's utilities department credit strengths include a positive operating performance record, substantial reserves, rapid debt repayment, sound management practices and healthy debt service coverage levels."
Chesterfield Utilities
2001 Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance
Chesterfield Utilities, Virginia
- Service population of 260,321.
- Budget for fiscal year 2001 was $53,382,900.
- Employs 250 people.
- Controls 20 water storage tanks and 30 pump stations, and manages more than 2,900 miles of water and wastewater lines.
- Operates a 12 mgd water treatment plant and purchases water from the City of Richmond and the Appomattox River Water Authority.
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities
2008 Platinum Award for Utility Excellence
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is one of only a handful of utilities in the country that have a AAA bond rating from each of the three major bond rating organizations. The Virginia utility has been innovative in preserving water supplies through its water reuse agreement with Dominion Virginia Power, the largest reuse project in the commonwealth. It has also earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 10-Year Director’s Award for the Partnership for Safe Water.
Chesterfield County Utilities Department
2015 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
Chesterfield County Utilities Department’s annual performance plan tracks over 100 annual and historic performance measures from virtually every work center. The Department improves its strong financial position through competitive rates that adequately recover costs, while providing for reserves and future needs, thereby maintaining a Triple AAA bond rating and ensuring future stability. Striving to be efficient and environmentally conscious in all aspects of operations, the Department has implemented process improvement initiatives including reducing natural gas consumption, potable water usage and energy/chemical consumption.
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities
2019 Sustainable Water Utility Management Award
The Chesterfield County Department of Utilities’ annual performance plan tracks over 100 annual and historic performance measures from every center within the department to align its goals and objectives. Competitive rates that adequately recover costs, provide for reserves, and prepare for future needs have put the department in a strong financial position, maintaining a triple AAA bond rating and ensuring financial stability. Its environmental management system has expanded to incorporate a health and safety component, and it strives to meet the needs of its growing community through innovative approaches to demand management, waste reduction, and overall process improvements. The utility won its initial sustainability award from AMWA in 2014.