• Innovative agreement to create regional partnership
CALGARY, AB, Canada, Nov. 2, 2009 -- ATCO Water announced today it has been selected by the towns of Three Hills and Trochu to develop a long-term partnership for the delivery of water and wastewater services.
Under the proposed partnership, ATCO Water would purchase a minority ownership interest in the integrated water and wastewater systems of both communities, manage the merged operations, and provide capital for future infrastructure.
"ATCO is honored to work with the communities of Three Hills and Trochu to innovatively provide the best possible water services to their residents," said Tony Salters, Vice President & General Manager, ATCO Energy Solutions.
Three Hills and Trochu would retain majority ownership of the integrated water and wastewater system while working with ATCO to make necessary improvements. Existing municipal staff would be employed for day-to-day operations.
"Trochu and Three Hills spent a considerable amount of time examining how best to provide water services to our communities which are just 15 kilometers apart," said Trochu Mayor Barry Kletke. "By bringing our water services together under ATCO management we avoid duplication while leveraging ATCO's knowledge and experience in the utilities sector."
"Municipal services are increasingly complex, more expensive to operate and must meet ever higher standards," said Three Hills Mayor Kevin Edwards. "Our two municipal councils know we can do more together with ATCO than we can do alone in serving the people of our communities."
ATCO Water offers municipal and industrial customers with customized water and wastewater solutions by utilizing the global expertise of the ATCO Group of Companies. In the utility sector, ATCO serves more than one million customers in more than 300 communities in Alberta and Canada's North.
"ATCO Water is committed to working with communities and industry in the most progressive way possible - both in our commercial arrangements and in the way we operate," said Mr. Salters. "We welcome the opportunity to discuss long-term partnership solutions with other municipalities."
ATCO Water is a division of ATCO Energy Solutions, a multi-faceted subsidiary company of Canadian Utilities Limited. Canadian Utilities Limited is part of ATCO Group, an Alberta-based, worldwide organization with more than $9.9 billion in assets and 7,700 employees actively engaged in Energy, Utilities, Structures & Logistics and Technologies. More information can be found at www.atco.com.
###
