The Dry Garden: Old tiers, new layout

Posted on | May 13, 2011 | 4 Comments

Don't understand the water price tier system of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power? Cheer up. Neither does the department's graphic artist. The tier shown on this dummy bill created to promote the new bill is wrong. If I understand it, and I'm not sure that I do, a Tier 1 allotment for a hot climate area would be 24 HCFs/mo or higher. It's still a better-looking bill that makes water use more clear. The real shame is that the prices are so low, too low to discourage pools and lawns or to raise enough money to step up replacement of aging city water mains. Click on the image above to be taken to this week's Dry Garden column in the Los Angeles Times, which looks at the bill.

 

Comments

4 Responses to “The Dry Garden: Old tiers, new layout”

  1. BMGM
    May 13th, 2011 @ 1:54 pm

    People who move out to hotter climates and larger lots get more water at lower rates because they “need” more water? The same applies to tiered electricity rates because they “need” AC out in the desert.

    Why should those of us who pay more to live in smaller homes and lots closer to work (and the coast) subsidize people who choose to commute longer distances from inland suburbs?

    That’s inherently unfair and encourages environmentally-damaging behavior.

  2. David Zetland
    May 18th, 2011 @ 2:38 am

    Hahahaha 🙂

  3. Chris
    June 17th, 2011 @ 11:34 am

    The new tier billing system(s) are a scam and a total money grab. This is a normal dry period we went through like in the 70s, and they (California Water Companies) are not using historic records, but 3-5 year data to proclaim a record drought!

    This reminds me of what Enron did to us in 2000 with the state electricity scam.

    Also, the water companies don’t want to tell customers there is currently is a HUGE water surplus in the state and MANY reservoirs are now dumping water over their spillways. In some areas of the state there may even be flooding this summer, yet these water companies want to ride this fantasy of a prolonged water shortage all the way to the bank! They think they can get away with gouging and tricking us.
    The new tier billing systems do NOTHING to reward water saving. Most people would have to totally shut off their water just to make it into the next lower tier. That will not promote water saving only their raised rates and profits.

    You can check out our water levels for yourself and decide if the water companies are currently doing a Enron on us…
    http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cdecapp/resapp/getResGraphsMain.action

    Write the Governor and state water board and complain. If enough people complain about the crooked water companies and their new tier billing systems, than things might get changed.

  4. EmilyGreen
    June 17th, 2011 @ 11:46 am

    Chris, whoever you are, (why do people hide their identities?) thank you. I of course disagree. When we can restore health to the places that we tap for water, all three of which have diminished flows (Owens Lake is dry, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta is dying, the Colorado River delta is all but dead) then you might be able to argue that we have too much water. When we can move it here without huge power consumption and global warming impacts, again, you might be able to argue that we have too much water. As it is, the LADWP is in desperate need of income to repair leaking pipes and meet meek, frankly inadequate sustainability goals. I do think that the tier system is unfair in that most of us, all but the poorest and lowest users (apartment dwellers) should start paying rates that make chronic waste on things like display lawn impossible.

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