Rates rising faster than supplies
By: North County Times Opinion staff - | ∞
Our view: Water, electricity price hikes are worth the cost if they spark conservation
California is a state of abundant natural resources. Unfortunately, water and energy aren't among them. Recent rate hikes for water and power are a reminder that we must do a better job of managing what we have.
This week the Metropolitan Water District, the agency that sells water to San Diego County, announced that it is raising wholesale rates. While no one likes to pay more for anything, we shouldn't overreact to price increases for a precious commodity that is often wasted because of its relative affordability.
The 5.8 percent increase in water rates will probably cost the average San Diego County ratepayer only between $1 to $1.50 a month. Admittedly, Metropolitan's rate raise will likely trigger increases by other agencies, including the San Diego County Water Authority, which in turn sells it to the 23 cities and water districts that directly supply county residents.
It doesn't help our wallets that the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Vista Irrigation District, Valley Center Municipal Water District, the Rainbow Municipal Water District, and San Marcos' Vallecitos Water District have already either increased rates or are considering increases.
But let's put this in perspective.
The National Drought Mitigation Center reported Thursday that California is in the midst of a moderate drought. In Southern California and the Sierras, where snowmelt supplies much of our drinking water, that drought is "severe," according to most experts. Some Northern California communities are already being asked to voluntarily cut back water usage or face mandatory cutbacks. Meanwhile, the Colorado River basin is experiencing one of its worst droughts ever. The Colorado still supplies Southern California with about a third of its drinking water.
According to the Western Municipal Water District in Riverside, the average Southern California family uses about 450 gallons of water daily. In its 2005 annual report, the county water authority reports that residential and commercial landscaping accounts for half of that use. That's 225 gallons a day to grow roses and tropical plants and keep lawns green. In a desert.
The good news is that Southern Californians can cut their water use and costs without major lifestyle changes, just by being a little more sensible about what they plant in their yards. Good ideas are sprouting at the Water Conservation Garden, which you can see online at http://www.thegarden.org/ or in person at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon. Admission is free and they offer monthly classes advising how to plant water-wise yards and gardens.
Small, smart changes can also help us grapple with rising electricity costs. On Thursday, the state Public Utilities Commission gave permission to San Diego Gas & Electric Co. to install digital meters. These so-called "smart" meters will be able to communicate with appliances and users to provide tips on how to reduce electricity bills, including giving real-time information about demand and prices on the regional energy grid.
The new meters are expected to cost residential users between $1 and $1.50 a month, but SDG&E also has plans for rebates that will reward consumers who use less electricity during peak hours. Even without such incentives, the new technology should allow people to reduce their electricity bills by using power more efficiently.
Our region is also thirsting for ever-more energy. Californians conserved at record levels during the 2000-01 energy crisis, but our demand for electricity has since been surging. Meanwhile, SDG&E's controversial effort to build a Sunrise Powerlink through the desert and some North County communities, along with the news last month that the utility was shopping around for another major power plant, remind us that the region's struggles over energy generation won't go dim anytime soon.
Concerns over environmental impacts have made the creation and transmission of power ever more difficult. Water, too, has a murky future, especially if we take seriously climate change's threat to our water supply and the regulatory hurdles awaiting desalination of the salt water to the west. The most obvious answer in both cases is to reduce demand.
All of us should use the latest water hikes, and the pending electricity bump, as an opportunity to re-evaluate how we use water and electricity.
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Floyd wrote on Apr 12, 2007 10:50 PM:We have been re-evaluating our use of water and electricity for ... what, a decade now? And the answer is still rationing? What we need is additional capacity to handle the predictable growth of the region! One company has been trying to put a water desalination plant in Carlsbad for five years without success due to government foot-dragging! Electrical generation and transmission capacity also needs expansion but the utilities haven't made the necesssary investment in plants and infrastructure! It's time to eliminate rationing as a response to insufficient supplies and build more generating capacity for both.
jay wrote on Apr 13, 2007 1:26 AM:We live in the desert area there is not supposed to be an abudance of water. But do we stop building houses and business buliding NO. The answer is not to raise rates but stop the building Government and agencies in California have not common sense just GREED
Howiek wrote on Apr 13, 2007 4:34 AM:Just think, with all the projected growth the southwest is about to run out of affordable water supplies—this is not a new concept! Both Lake Powell and Lake Mead are at best at 50 percent of capacity and continuing to drop. It was mentioned that Lake Powell may have to be closed sometime this year—allowing only enough water to keep the Colorado River semi-alive, where is Southern California’s water going to come from then? I’m afraid desalination is only part of the answer! Let’s get on with building the power line from the east—nobody wants a power plant in their back yard is why local generation isn’t going to work! I understand Home Depot has a sale on generators right now!
Gary wrote on Apr 13, 2007 7:15 AM:With stories like this I still do not understand why we do not try to limit State Population. It is all about overpopulation and our dwindling supply of natural resources and infrastructure. Last night another 6,000 Illegal Aliens snuck over our Southern Border.
Ron wrote on Apr 13, 2007 7:21 AM:Interesting take, that higher rates will reduce consumption. That's exactly the take CBO had about oil and gas consumption. And I think Gary has a another interesting point. For those of us who live in North County, we know for a fact, that many illegals in a single apartment or house, over extending the water and sewer system.
Waterman wrote on Apr 13, 2007 7:39 AM:When it comes to water, conservation is ALWAYS a good idea. MWD's recent rate hike announcement only costing the "average ratepayer between $1.00 and $1.50 per month," though, is misleading. MWD's is the wholesale cost. Every agency that buys this water then tacks on their costs. Oceanside, for example, is considering increases to their water rates of nearly 21% -- that's in addition to MWD's extra $1-$1.50! And what is an average rate payer, anyway? Is it anything like SDGE's "baseline user"? If so, the increase will be much higher for that "average ratepayer." The time to conserve water is NOW!
confused wrote on Apr 13, 2007 1:14 PM:Why should I conserve? Conserve so that the advertisers in the NCTimes (builders/real estate) can go on increasing the aggregate consumption of water? Motto: "Save water so builders can put in more units"
less confused wrote on Apr 13, 2007 1:17 PM:Rates are also going up because of MWD boondoggles like their water museum. Google it. In Encinitas rates are going up because the City Council, led by Stocks and Dalager, are moving cash from the water district and putting it in the city's general fund, sort of like the city of san diego.
Don wrote on Apr 13, 2007 6:10 PM:As a 50 year resident of San Diego county I disagree with those wanting still more energy and water for the region. Get used to decreasing limits. Not convinced? Water, energy and food form an interrelated triangle. Use energy to desalinate water, then the price of energy goes up. Use "food" to make energy, grocery prices go up. "Import" any of the three and inefficiencies go up making things worse overall. Best answer: locally sustainable use.
Mayor, Mayor,Mayor wrote on Apr 13, 2007 8:50 PM:Since this is such a complex issue and, as you can see by the abundance of interested citizens, a hot topic, go ahead and appoint Jerry Kern as our "water czar." We'll be in good hands?
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