Carmel Utilities

What Carmel Utilities does

Carmel Utilities (legal name: City of Carmel Water Wastewater Utilities) is a municipal utility owned and operated by the City of Carmel, Indiana, providing water, wastewater, trash, and recycling services to more than 29,000 residential and commercial customers within Carmel city limits. The water system, founded in 1929, operates 20 well sites feeding four treatment facilities with a combined capacity of 34 million gallons per day, distributed through more than 538 miles of water main. The Carmel Wastewater Treatment Plant (CUWTP), established in 1959 and expanded in 2021 from 12 MGD to 14 MGD, serves approximately 70% of the utility's water customers and additionally treats wastewater on a wholesale basis for the Trico Regional Sewer District and the City of Westfield.

The utility's technology stack centers on Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) using Neptune smart meters deployed across approximately 29,000 endpoints since September 2021 via an $8 million revenue bond, enabling automated radio-frequency reads at 350 meters/minute and feeding the mycarmelutilities.com customer portal (powered by Invoice Cloud) with near-real-time daily and hourly consumption data. Treatment capabilities include UV disinfection, the first Bio-Pasteur solids pasteurization process in the United States (2006), and biological/chemical phosphorus removal. Supporting programs include a Sump Pump Redirection Program, Backflow Prevention Program, Wellhead Protection Program, and a Household Hazardous Waste facility.

Revenue is generated through monthly metered water charges (residential step rates of $4.66/1,000 gallons for the first 9,000 gallons and $6.17 thereafter, plus meter-size-based base charges), sewer service ($6.42/1,000 gallons plus base), administered trash and recycling fees ($14.70/month in 2024, escalating to $19.07/month by 2030 under the Republic Services contract), and one-time connection/availability fees ($3,530 sewer and $6,233 water per equivalent dwelling unit for new development). Service is delivered through a direct-to-consumer model with no sales motion, given the geographic franchise monopoly. The 1-10 employee count listed in firmographic data understates the operation, which runs a plant, AMI rollout, and customer service across multiple offices (30 W Main Street HQ, 3450 W. 131st Street operations, 901 N Range Line Rd HHW facility, and the 96th Street WWTP).

Name

Carmel Utilities

Legal name

City of Carmel Water Wastewater Utilities

Website

https://carmelutilities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carmel Utilities is a municipal water, wastewater, trash, and recycling utility owned by the City of Carmel, Indiana, serving 29,000+ residential and commercial customers through 20 well sites, 4 water treatment facilities, and a 14 MGD wastewater treatment plant, with AMI smart metering and an integrated customer portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Utilities (221)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

Keywords

• Municipal water utility
• Wastewater treatment services
• Trash recycling collection
• Household hazardous waste
• Advanced metering infrastructure

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Utility Service: Carmel Utilities charges residential and commercial customers for water service based on meter size (base charge) plus step-usage charges per 1,000 gallons or 100 cubic feet. Residential tiered pricing: first 9,000 gallons at $4.66 per 1,000 gallons, over 9,000 at $6.17 per 1,000 gallons. Commercial minimum charges vary by meter size. Revenue supports bond repayment for the AMI meter replacement project ($8 million) without requiring rate increases.
2. Sewer/Wastewater Service: Residential and commercial sewer service charges include a base charge per meter size plus a fixed usage charge per 1,000 gallons ($6.42) or 100 cubic feet ($4.80). Sewer usage is based on water usage. Non-metered flat rate sewer charge is $44.30/month.
3. Trash and Recycling Service: Republic Services provides trash and recycling under a municipal contract as part of Carmel Utilities offerings. Program costs: 2024 $14.70, 2025 $15.35, 2026 $16.03, 2027 $16.74, 2028 $17.48, 2029 $18.25, 2030 $19.07 per month. Additional carts charged at $6.75 each per month. The utility administers billing for Republic Services.
4. Fees and Availability Charges: Various fees including new service fees, disconnection fees, after-hours turn-on fees, meter installation fees, irrigation permits, hydrant meter deposits and daily fees, water main tap fees, development review fees, and sewer/water availability and connection fees (per EDU). Availability and connection fees are significant one-time charges at time of new development or connection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Carmel Utilities is a municipal water, wastewater, trash and recycling utility serving over 29,000 residential and commercial customers within the City of Carmel, Indiana. It operates 20 well sites feeding four water treatment facilities (34 MGD capacity) and a 14 MGD wastewater treatment plant, distributing water through more than 538 miles of water main. Trash and curbside recycling are provided under contract by Republic Services, and a household hazardous waste disposal facility is administered for residents.

Product overview

Carmel Utilities is a municipal utility providing water, wastewater, trash, and recycling services to the City of Carmel, Indiana. The utility operates its core infrastructure including 20 well sites, four water treatment facilities with 34 MGD capacity, and a 14 MGD wastewater treatment plant serving over 29,000 customers. The mycarmelutilities.com customer portal serves as the primary digital interface, integrating Invoice Cloud for payment processing and connecting to an AMI system for real-time usage monitoring. Additional services include household hazardous waste disposal, irrigation permitting, backflow prevention, sump pump redirection, and the Citizens Utility Academy educational program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Distribution Service Municipal water supply service operating 20 well sites feeding four treatment facilities with 34 MGD combined capacity, distributed through 538+ miles of water main to over 29,000 residential and commercial customers within the City of Carmel.
• Wastewater Treatment Service Wastewater collection and treatment operations at the Carmel Wastewater Treatment Plant (CUWTP) with 14 MGD capacity, serving nearly 70 percent of Carmel Utilities' water customers plus the Trico Regional Sewer District and the City of Westfield.
• Trash & Recycling Service Mandatory residential trash and curbside recycling collection service for all Carmel residents, delivered by Republic Services under municipal contract with Carmel Utilities administering billing, including seasonal landscape waste collection.
• mycarmelutilities.com Customer Portal Online self-service portal combining bill payment (via Invoice Cloud), daily and hourly water usage tracking via AMI, autopay enrollment, paperless billing, billing and payment history, and usage/leak alerts.
• Household Hazardous Waste Program Free household hazardous waste disposal facility for City of Carmel residents and Carmel Utilities customers, accepting solvents, pesticides, paint products, motor oil, batteries, and mercury products at 901 N Range Line Rd, Carmel.
• Backflow Prevention Program Cross-connection control program requiring installation and testing of backflow prevention devices to protect the public water supply, with compliance requirements for commercial, irrigation, and fire sprinkler systems under Indiana Title 327 IAC 8 Rule 10.
• Irrigation Services Irrigation system specifications, permitting, and inspection services including backflow device requirements for in-ground lawn irrigation systems, with an irrigation permit fee of $615.00.
• Hydrant Meter Service Temporary water service through fire hydrants for construction, testing, and other authorized purposes, with deposit fees and daily usage charges.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wastewater treatment capacity: 14 million gallons per day (expanded 2021)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Republic ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2023Republic Services provides trash and curbside recycling service under a seven-year municipal contract (2023-2030) awarded after competitive re-bidding. The City program is mandatory for all residents within city limits. Republic Services handles collection while Carmel Utilities administers billing. Contact for service issues: 317-917-7300.
• Duke EnergyminorOthersDuke Energy is listed as the electric service provider for the Carmel area on the Carmel Utilities service providers page. Not a formal partnership but a listed utility partner.
• CenterPoint EnergyminorOthersCenterPoint Energy (formerly Vectren) is listed as the gas service provider for the Carmel area. Not a formal partnership.
• SpectrumminorOthersSpectrum listed as cable TV/Internet service provider for the Carmel area on the service providers page.
• MetroNetminorOthersMetroNet listed as fiber TV/Internet provider for the Carmel area.
• AT&TminorOthersAT&T listed as telephone/Internet service provider for the Carmel area.
• Citizens Energy GroupminorOthersCitizens Energy Group provides water to some Carmel locations (west of Michigan Rd). Not a formal partnership; Carmel Utilities relays Citizens' boil advisories and water main break notices to affected Carmel customers. Some Carmel locations receive water from the Citizens system rather than Carmel Utilities.
• Trico Regional Sewer DistrictcoreOthersCarmel Utilities wastewater treatment plant processes a portion of wastewater for Trico Regional Sewer District.
• City of WestfieldcoreOthersCarmel Utilities wastewater treatment plant processes a portion of wastewater for the City of Westfield.
• Neptune Technology GroupcoreTechnology or IntegrationNeptune Technology Group manufactures the smart water meters used in Carmel Utilities' AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) project. All new meters are tested and guaranteed for accuracy by Neptune in compliance with AWWA accuracy standards. The meters use low-level radio frequencies to transmit data, complying with FCC standards.
• Envocore RTS Water SolutionscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnvocore RTS Water Solutions is the contractor partner for the AMI water meter change-out project. They perform the actual meter replacement installations. All contractors must meet stringent background checks, strict safety guidelines, and high standards of professionalism equal to Carmel Utility field staff.
• Invoice CloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationInvoice Cloud powers the pay-by-phone and pay-by-text services for Carmel Utilities. It is integrated with the mycarmelutilities.com customer portal and the existing billing system. Transactional fees: $0.95 for electronic check, $2.95 for credit card.
• Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM)coreOthersIDEM is the state regulatory body governing drinking water quality and wastewater treatment. Carmel Utilities must comply with IDEM regulations, issues annual Water Quality Reports per IDEM requirements, and received the Hoosier Water Guardian Award with Distinction from IDEM.
• Purdue UniversityminorOthersCarmel Utilities partners with Purdue University for survey data collection and community feedback programs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Greensburg Decatur County Water Utility: Indiana municipal water/wastewater utility of comparable scale (~10,000-15,000 customers) that has won multiple Indiana Water Environment Association awards. Useful as a peer benchmark for award-winning mid-size Indiana municipal utility operations.
• Zionsville Wastewater Utility: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving Zionsville, Indiana, another affluent Hamilton/Boone County suburb. Comparable as a similar Indiana municipal utility serving a high-growth suburban community with similar demographic and regulatory environment.
• City of Noblesville Wastewater Utility: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving the City of Noblesville, Indiana, another neighboring Hamilton County community. Comparable as a similar-sized Indiana municipal utility with overlapping regional dynamics and customer profiles.
• City of Fishers Utilities: Municipal water and wastewater utility serving the City of Fishers, Indiana — a neighboring Hamilton County suburb with similar demographic profile and growth trajectory to Carmel. Comparable as a peer Indiana municipal utility of similar scale and customer base characteristics.
• Westfield Water & Wastewater Utility: Municipal utility serving the City of Westfield, Indiana. Already a customer of Carmel Utilities' wastewater treatment plant, this peer represents both a comparable municipal utility and a demonstration of inter-municipal service relationships in the region.

Others

• Republic Services: Second-largest solid waste management company in the US, currently providing trash and recycling collection services for Carmel under a 7-year municipal contract (2023-2030). Comparable as a key partner whose service quality directly affects Carmel Utilities' customer experience.

Broad incumbents

• American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded investor-owned water and wastewater utility in the United States, serving over 14 million people across 14 states. Comparable as an industry reference point for water/wastewater operations, AMI deployment scale, and utility valuation metrics, though operates under investor-owned rather than municipal ownership model.
• Veolia North America: Operates water and wastewater treatment facilities for municipalities across North America under operations-and-maintenance contracts. Comparable as both a potential competitor for outsourced municipal contracts and a reference point for how Carmel Utilities' wastewater plant operations could be structured.
• Essential Utilities (Aqua America): Large investor-owned water and natural gas utility serving ~5 million people across 9 states. Comparable as a major water/wastewater operator with similar regulatory and operational challenges, providing public-market valuation reference for the asset class.

Direct peers

• Citizens Energy Group: Indianapolis-based utility providing water, wastewater, gas, and electric services across central Indiana. Directly comparable as a municipal utility operating in the same geography with overlapping water service territory in parts of Carmel west of Michigan Road, and serves as the actual alternative water provider for some Carmel addresses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/carmelutilities
• Facebookfacebook.com/CarmelUtilities
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carmel-utilities

Compliance19 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carmel Utilities