How do I create a scenario?

In CPA, click on Scenarios and then add new scenario. Choose whether you want to start a new empty scenario, or to copy an existing scenario so you can carry over all pre-populated data into a new scenario. This data can then be adjusted as necessary. A step-by-step guide on how to create new scenarios can be found in the Scenarios section of the CPA User Guide.

How do I set or update annual requirements?

To import annual requirements from AM, go to CPA, click on Annual Requirements and click Import Requirements. Choose the database from which you want to import the data. Alternatively, you can manually adjust annual requirements in each individual year in Annual Requirements by double-clicking into a data cell and entering the value. If you want to adjust an entire range of annual requirements, you can edit each asset category through the Edit Row button to the right of the category name. These values can be populated for multiple years at a time, as well as inflated using any desired inflation rate. A step-by-step guide on how to apply annual requirements can be found in the Annual Requirements section of the CPA User Guide.

How do I allocate funding towards expenditures?

There are two types of sources of funding: rates (property taxation, water user fees and waste water user fees) and sustainable revenue sources (Federal Gas Tax, the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF), etc.). Each database comes with three pre-populated revenue sources: property taxation, water user fees and wastewater user fees. Additional sources can be added in the Sources section. The next step is to populate and allocate revenue. Available revenue can be created through the Rates or Revenue sections. Revenue can be allocated to capital spending using multiple methods: prorated (allows the system to allocate available funds as needed on a proration basis), dollar (a dollar value assigned to each asset grouping which can be inflated), or percent deficiency (system allocates total funds to each asset grouping using the deficiency rate). A step by step guide on how to create and allocate revenue funds to capital and operating expenditures can be found in the Sources and Revenue sections of the CPA User Guide.

How do I enter my current debt schedules?

There are two ways to enter your current debt payments into CPA. The first is manually entering the payments into the Debt section under Financial Strategy. Enter the values for principal and interest payments, and the closing principal balance for each year, split up by tax, water, and wastewater funded debt. You can also upload your debt schedule using the Upload Center. Select the “debt existing payments” upload type. A step-by-step guide on how to upload your debt can be found in the Debt section of the CPA User Guide.

How do I attach assets/activities to my projects?

The first way to attach an asset to an existing project is to go into the Project Builder in the Project Plan section of CPA, search for the activity in the grid, check off the box on the left to select it, then click on the Link to Project button. The second way to attach and activity is through the Projects section. Click on the project name and navigate to the Activities section on the left. Click on Attach Activity and select the appropriate asset, then click Attach.

Why am I unable to edit information in CPA?

One reason why you may not be able to edit your scenario would be because there is currently another user editing the scenario. In CPA, only one user can edit a scenario at a time. If this is the case, the editing icon at the top will be a dark orange. Click this icon to enable editing.

Why have the calculations not updated since I entered new data into CPA?

One reason why the calculations may not be updated is if the system has not been recalculated. If this is the case, the calculator button at the top will be red. Click this icon to recalculate the scenario so that all calculations are up to date.

Why are my annual requirements not importing properly?

One reason why the annual requirements may not be pulling correctly from Asset Manager is that your assets do not have replacement costs. To learn how to add replacement costs to your assets, go to the Replacement Cost section of the AM User Guide. Another reason could be that your categories in CPA do not match your AM Categories. To align these, go to Categories in the CPA home screen and re-import categories from your preferred AM database. Then, go back to Annual Requirements and attempt to import your annual requirements once more.