Privatization: Where It's Not Happening
(A handful of cities which have rejected the idea of privatization)

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Took court action to acquire the privately-owned New Mexico Utilities, Inc. (NMUI) which runs the cityÕs water and wastewater system. NMUI is a subsidiary of Southwest Water - a West Covmia, California-based IOU.

City of Albuquerque - Wastewater Utility Division
Charles Bowman, Division Manager
4201 2nd St. S.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87105
Ph. (505) 873-6200
Fax (505) 873-7087

Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rejected privatization after a thorough review of private bids. Proposed savings were felt to be too small to warrant an award and a private contract would have transferred nearly $600,000 a year in indirect costs (mostly legal and purchasing costs) to other city agencies.

Moccasin Bend Plant
Eugene Wright, Director
455 Moccasin Bend Road
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Ph. (423) 757-5026
Fax (423) 757-4904

Martin County, Florida. When the Board of County Commissioners issued a Request for Proposal for contract O&M, Martin County Utilities hired a consultant to help it prepare its own competitive proposal. Based on changed working practices and the use of process control technology, the utility projected $10 million worth of savings over five years. The bid was successful and the utility signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the county binding it to the costs and improvements defined in its proposal.

Martin County Utilities
Richard Rollo, Director
2203 S.E. Ocean Blvd.
Stuart, FL 34996
Ph. (561) 221- 1442
Fax (561) 221-1447