News release
Citing a stable outlook and very low operating cost burdens, Fitch Ratings has upgraded the overall credit rating of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency to AA from AA-.
In addition, the ratings on several debt obligations were upgraded as follows:
• $75 million in certificates of participation were upgraded to AA+ from AA.
• $233.1 million in revenue bonds were upgraded to AA from AA-.
In their comprehensive review, Fitch Ratings, an independent credit rating agency, has concluded that the agency has a very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments, and is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events, according to a statement issued by SCV Water.
“The rating upgrade recognizes our very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments,” said Gary Martin, president of SCV Water board of directors. “At SCV Water, we work hard to be good stewards of our ratepayer’s money, and this rating means lower interest rates for us when we do need to turn to financing for certain capital improvement projects.”
This rating affirms the agency’s capacity to absorb the additional debt issuance planned to implement the agency’s fiscal 2022-2026 capital improvement plan and will allow SCV Water to continue to secure the best available interest rates for future debt financing requirements to meet infrastructure needs, the statement said.
Projects in the CIP will address pipeline repair and replacement, emergency storage, and recycled water programs, as well as treatment to restore water capacity from wells closed due to PFAS contamination.
The anticipated CIP totals $420 million, which SCV Water expects to fund with available reserves, pay-as-you-go revenue from water rates, state and federal grants and low-interest loans, recovery of costs from responsible parties in groundwater contamination litigation, as well as an additional $175 million in debt.
