Utilities

The city needs electricity, water, sewage treatment and waste collection. At first it buys these services from the region. Local facilities become useful as demand grows and importing more supply becomes expensive.

Open Utilities in the city reports for Overall, the individual utility pages and Contracts.

Road connections

Roads carry power, water and sewage connections; there are no separate pipes or pylons to lay. Waste collection also relies on the road network.

A connected network must reach a regional gateway at the map edge through a road, avenue or highway. Keep the starting connection intact.

If a neighbourhood suddenly loses several utilities, check its connection to the rest of the network before constructing more plants. Restore a suitable road to the map edge if the regional connection has been removed.

Buying supply or producing it locally

The opening town imports supply, so it does not need a power station or water facility immediately. Use the reports to compare local output, imported supply, demand and what is being bought at short notice.

As imports grow, regional supply becomes more expensive. Utility reports compare the cost of imports with local production and show the effect of a new plant.

In Arcade, the first local utility facilities unlock at 20,000 residents. Other types and sizes open later. Simulation offers them from the start.

Contracts

Contracts set the price and terms for imported supply or exports. Read the proposed length, minimum commitment, maximum volume, start date and cancellation or replacement fee before accepting an offer.

A minimum commitment can make unused supply costly. A low maximum can leave a growing city buying extra supply at short notice. If local production replaces imports, review the agreements too; building a plant does not erase an existing commitment.

The Contracts page shows the terms and cost of a proposed replacement.

Customer prices

Utility bills include a fixed connection charge and a charge for use. The adjustable markup applies to the city's cost of providing the service; it is not an independently fixed retail price.

Import contracts, local production, payroll and network upkeep affect that cost. The effect is smoothed over time, so a new facility or changed contract does not necessarily reach every bill immediately.

A higher markup can raise city income but increases pressure on households and businesses. A lower markup can ease bills while requiring the city to cover more of the service cost. Check both the utility balance and households' ability to pay.

Unpaid bills and disconnections

Unpaid household bills accumulate as arrears, and accounts can be disconnected for non-payment. The reports separate billed income from money collected.

Use Bills paid and unpaid, homes cut off for non-payment, and the Cost of living layer to track households struggling with utility costs.

Waste

Waste needs collection and a destination. Landfills, recycling and incineration provide different local capacity; imported services can handle part of the demand. The waste report separates the stream by destination and shows fleet capacity and regional collection.

Check collection, processing capacity, staffing and connections together when waste is not being handled. Consider pollution and nearby housing before placing a large waste facility.

For the budget effects of utility income and spending, see Economy and budget.