Standard&Poor's Ratings Services has assigned its 'AA' rating to City of Colorado Springs, Colo.'s utilities system revenue bonds series 2011A. The bonds will be fixed-rate and are secured by a pledge of net revenues of Colorado Springs Utilities' (CSU) electric, gas, water, wastewater, and streetlight systems. At the same time, Standard&Poor's affirmed its 'AA' rating on CSU's parity debt outstanding. The outlook is stable. Including these bonds, debt outstanding will total about $2.3 billion. Bond proceeds will refund series 2001A and 2003A bonds. The 'AA' rating reflects what we consider to be the following credit strengths: Willingness of the city council to set rates that provide generally strong debt service coverage (DSC) and good liquidity; Competitive
