DC Water saves $50 million; refunds nearly $300 million in utility bonds

April 21, 2020

While keeping on top of the pandemic response, DC Water last week capitalized on the volatile investment market, saving $50 million by refinancing Series 2012 A and C subordinate-lien bonds.

DC Water completed the Series 2022 Forward Direct Purchase with JP Morgan through DNT Asset Trust to refund almost $300 million in outstanding debt. The transaction locked in a total interest cost of 2.18% to be recognized in July 2022. This is among the lowest average interest rates for any refunding deal in DC Water’s history.

 

“We acted quickly to secure this private market opportunity,” said DC Water CEO and General Manager David L. Gadis. “Swift action by our Board of Directors and the financing team enabled us to capture these historically low rates.”

“Refinancing now saves us about $3.8 million annually from Fiscal Year 2022 to Fiscal Year 2037,” added DC Water Chief Financial Officer Matthew Brown. “We repay our debt service from our operating budget, which is one component that drives rate increases. Therefore, savings like these benefit our ratepayers in future budgets.”

For more information about DC Water’s bond offerings, please visit the Investor Relations portion of our website at dcwater.com/investor-relations.

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Overhead Photo of Potomac Interceptor

Comprehensive Survey to Guide Rehabilitation and Address Changing Site Conditions

Starting later this week, DC Water will conduct an aerial drone assessment along the 54-mile Potomac Interceptor (PI) to evaluate current site conditions and better understand the changing landscape and development along the Potomac Interceptor alignment, including areas where there may be rocks or boulders that need further on the ground inspections.

Placeholder DC Water Image

DC Water has completed sludge removal on a section of the C & O Canal between locks 13 and 14, which was used as a bypass to divert wastewater around the collapsed section of the Potomac Interceptor and back into the pipe further downstream. Crews are now constructing an access bridge to this section of the canal to allow soil removal to begin.

Workers doing ongoing rehabilitation work

As work nears completion on the initial clean-up and temporary stabilization of the areas directly impacted by the Potomac Interceptor overflows, DC Water is beginning preparations for beautification and revegetation to restore native plants, trees, and shrubs.

Before moving to the next phase of environmental rehabilitation, DC Water is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct soil sampling to verify the clean-up efforts.

Upcoming Meeting

Board of Directors Meeting

April 24, 2023

Monday 9:00 AM

Announcement

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DC CLEAN RIVERS – POTOMAC RIVER TUNNEL PROJECT
If you bike, drive, or walk through Georgetown, we’ve got changes starting this week around the Potomac River Tunnel construction on Water Street NW. The Capital Crescent Trail has a new temporary detour through Georgetown Waterfront Park, open now for cyclists between 33rd and Potomac streets NW.

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Upcoming Meeting

Upcoming Events

Customer Service Center Announcement

Payment Plan Incentive: provides a credit back of 50% of the last 3 payments made. Eligible participants are residential customers who have had an outstanding balance for 60 days or greater and with an outstanding balance of $500 or more.