California begins to reward residents who cut water use with rate increase to make up for lower water use

Greg P. | 4:56 PM on October 22, 2015

Conserve water, California Governor Jerry Brown ordered. And now here’s the reward for the sacrifice — higher water rates to make up for lower revenues due to the cutbacks!

Saved water because of the drought? You did so well that @LADWP lost money and will increase rates 4% @ladailynews https://t.co/CSTDpkhfuU

— Mike Reicher (@mreicher) October 21, 2015

Let me get this straight. I have done all I can to save water and I'm being charged for that? WOW!!!! Talk about… https://t.co/akoAysqCkB

— Donta Morrison (@TheDontaShow) October 21, 2015

https://twitter.com/BradThor/status/657196996630028288

Higher prices lead to conservation & costs DO get passed to consumers.

Who knew?!?!@ThomasEWoods @PeterSchiff https://t.co/FjHktfSHRU

— Jared Fein (@JaredFein) October 22, 2015

Weird. No word on cutback to salaries or costs at DWP.

Hahahahahahahaha! Of course…. https://t.co/spgV8BU43l

— TeaPartyPatriotsEDH (@TPPEDH) October 22, 2015

Good news: Californians cut water use!
Bad news: DWP hiked rates! https://t.co/FLzuvDj4np

— Roy Allen (@TSElliott2) October 22, 2015

Funny how @LADWP first pushing us to consume less water due to drought in California and then increasing the rates to cover lost revenue.

— Andrew Gerasimov (@andrewgerasimov) October 22, 2015

Actually, not so funny. But expected.

Union controlled LA Department of Water and Power raising fees after people conserved watr – https://t.co/Xp9dkjJtwI pic.twitter.com/6HSdVLF7pM

— ❌❌ gab.ai/tonyr951 ❌❌ (@tonyr951) October 21, 2015

Enjoying those lower water bills from 3-minute showers and your new drought-tolerant landscaping? Well, prepare to pay a little more to make up for your conservation.

Throughout California, consumers have conserved during this four-year drought and purchased less water from their utilities, leaving some water agencies operating in the red and drawing down reserves. Officials now say they need to pass some of the costs back to customers.

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power will hike rates to cover some of its lost revenue, its civilian board decided Tuesday. Most DWP customers will pay 4 percent more for water beginning in January. The average residential monthly bill will increase from $49.73 to $51.53, DWP officials said.

“The reality is that rate increases, surcharges and other pricing adjustments are part of the drought story this year,” Association of California Water Agencies spokeswoman Lisa Lien-Mager said.

***