Comments on: Water conservation success backfires on policy-makers

By: Alzbaba

Alzbaba — Wed, 18 Jun 2014 15:18:37 +0000

Its silly to think that people do not want our water supply to be stable and sufficient; or think that they are not willing to pay for it! What the people are saying is they do not trust government to spend our money wisely or even smartly! Taker the Brown Express Bullet Train for example – what a waste – use that 100 Billion and take care of the water supply and our roads where we really need it!

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 20:06:20 +0000

“Building new dams and reservoirs was only approved by 65 percent of those polled.”

Ahhhh, So, only two thirds like this idea. ONLY two thirds.

When did two thirds in support become “difficult to get the public to favor any taxes for water projects”?

By: Bill Gore

Bill Gore — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 15:41:33 +0000

Water conservation is a double-edged sword in terms of the utilities’ relationship with the ratepayers.
Utilities say to ratepayers: “You must conserve. If you do not conserve we will hit you with heavily tiered rate structures to punish your consumption.”
So ratepayers cut back and conserve to the point that utilities then come out and say “we must raise rates because conservation is slashing our revenues.”
All of wich leaves ratepayers dumbfounded: if they conserve, they’re screwed. If they don’t conserve, they’re screwed.
Adding to the horror is the total lack of restraint in the growth of compensation and benefits on the part of utility management and unionized rank and file. They pay themselves whatever they can, because they can. MWD has a very checkered reputation in this regard. Its upper management is literally southern california royalty, and the pay, benefits and job security are all very generous.