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California Today: The Conservation Paradox: Higher Bills California Today: Use Less Water, Pay Higher Bills
(about 1 hour later)
Good morning.Good morning.
(Want to get California Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.)(Want to get California Today by email? Here’s the sign-up.)
Today’s introduction comes from Vindu Goel, a technology writer.Today’s introduction comes from Vindu Goel, a technology writer.
OAKLAND — During California’s long drought, public officials and utilities urged residents to cut back on water usage and imposed temporary bill surcharges to discourage consumption. OAKLAND — During California’s long drought, public officials urged residents to cut back on water usage and imposed temporary bill surcharges to discourage consumption.
Consumers and businesses responded by reducing water consumption an average of 22 percent statewide from June 2015 to January 2017.Consumers and businesses responded by reducing water consumption an average of 22 percent statewide from June 2015 to January 2017.
Now their reward will be higher water rates.Now their reward will be higher water rates.
Although California’s governor, Jerry Brown, officially declared an end to the state’s drought emergency last month, local water agencies are planning major rate increases to make up for the fact that they are selling a lot less water than they used to.Although California’s governor, Jerry Brown, officially declared an end to the state’s drought emergency last month, local water agencies are planning major rate increases to make up for the fact that they are selling a lot less water than they used to.
The East Bay Municipal Utility District, which serves 1.4 million people on the east side of San Francisco Bay, told customers last week that it planned to raise water rates 9.25 percent on July 1 and another 9 percent the next year. The water agency in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, is proposing to raise rates 7 percent per year for the next two years.The East Bay Municipal Utility District, which serves 1.4 million people on the east side of San Francisco Bay, told customers last week that it planned to raise water rates 9.25 percent on July 1 and another 9 percent the next year. The water agency in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, is proposing to raise rates 7 percent per year for the next two years.
Call it the paradox of conservation.Call it the paradox of conservation.
About 80 percent of the costs of delivering water to urban customers are fixed — pipes, treatment plants, reservoirs. But water bills are set up to recover most of those costs by charging customers a per-gallon fee, said David Mitchell, who studies water policy at M.Cubed, a public policy consulting firm.About 80 percent of the costs of delivering water to urban customers are fixed — pipes, treatment plants, reservoirs. But water bills are set up to recover most of those costs by charging customers a per-gallon fee, said David Mitchell, who studies water policy at M.Cubed, a public policy consulting firm.
So when usage drops sharply, as it did during the drought, rates have to go up. “The fixed costs have to spread over fewer gallons,” Mr. Mitchell said. He predicted that water utilities statewide will be raising rates in the next few years to make up for the revenue shortfalls caused by the drought.So when usage drops sharply, as it did during the drought, rates have to go up. “The fixed costs have to spread over fewer gallons,” Mr. Mitchell said. He predicted that water utilities statewide will be raising rates in the next few years to make up for the revenue shortfalls caused by the drought.
For the East Bay Municipal Utility District, revenue is down 12 percent this fiscal year, as a drought surcharge ended and the average user cut back from 250 gallons a day to 200.For the East Bay Municipal Utility District, revenue is down 12 percent this fiscal year, as a drought surcharge ended and the average user cut back from 250 gallons a day to 200.
“We really do appreciate what our customers have done to conserve. They’ve pulled out their lawns. They take shorter showers,” said Jenesse Miller, an agency spokeswoman. “But whether we deliver one gallon or 130 million gallons, the infrastructure is the same.”“We really do appreciate what our customers have done to conserve. They’ve pulled out their lawns. They take shorter showers,” said Jenesse Miller, an agency spokeswoman. “But whether we deliver one gallon or 130 million gallons, the infrastructure is the same.”
Ms. Miller said that the two rate increases, which will ultimately raise the average bill $9 a month by mid-2018, will largely pay for infrastructure improvements and maintenance. “Many parts of the East Bay have pipes that are 90 or 100 years old,” she said.Ms. Miller said that the two rate increases, which will ultimately raise the average bill $9 a month by mid-2018, will largely pay for infrastructure improvements and maintenance. “Many parts of the East Bay have pipes that are 90 or 100 years old,” she said.
(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)(Please note: We regularly highlight articles on news sites that have limited access for nonsubscribers.)
• Shortly after talks stretched beyond a strike deadline, Hollywood writers reached a tentative contract deal with the studios. [The New York Times]• Shortly after talks stretched beyond a strike deadline, Hollywood writers reached a tentative contract deal with the studios. [The New York Times]
• “Nancy — you’re the best,” President Trump once told Representative Nancy Pelosi. Can they deal again? [The New York Times]• “Nancy — you’re the best,” President Trump once told Representative Nancy Pelosi. Can they deal again? [The New York Times]
• Representative Maxine Waters’s slashing commentary on Mr. Trump has brought her fame and a nickname: Auntie Maxine. [Los Angeles Times]• Representative Maxine Waters’s slashing commentary on Mr. Trump has brought her fame and a nickname: Auntie Maxine. [Los Angeles Times]
• Protesters took to the streets for May Day in numerous cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. [The New York Times]• Protesters took to the streets for May Day in numerous cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. [The New York Times]
• Sacramento may start paying legal defense costs of unauthorized immigrants. [Sacramento Bee]• Sacramento may start paying legal defense costs of unauthorized immigrants. [Sacramento Bee]
• San Jose had the highest-paid city manager and police chief in a survey of 200 cities. [The Mercury News]• San Jose had the highest-paid city manager and police chief in a survey of 200 cities. [The Mercury News]
• Cetys University, just south of the border, is making an ambitious bid to become the first Mexican member of the N.C.A.A. [The New York Times]• Cetys University, just south of the border, is making an ambitious bid to become the first Mexican member of the N.C.A.A. [The New York Times]
• Napa’s audacious “living river” project didn’t just fix a flood problem, wrote the urban design critic John King. It improved quality of life. [San Francisco Chronicle]• Napa’s audacious “living river” project didn’t just fix a flood problem, wrote the urban design critic John King. It improved quality of life. [San Francisco Chronicle]
• “There are a lot of folks gaming the system.” Airbnb agreed to give San Francisco more information about its hosts. [The New York Times]• “There are a lot of folks gaming the system.” Airbnb agreed to give San Francisco more information about its hosts. [The New York Times]
• The actress Gabourey Sidibe was sick of talking about her weight. So she wrote a memoir. [The New York Times]• The actress Gabourey Sidibe was sick of talking about her weight. So she wrote a memoir. [The New York Times]
Long before the Supreme Court outlawed school segregation in 1954, Mexican-Americans in California were striking the first legal blows against the practice.Long before the Supreme Court outlawed school segregation in 1954, Mexican-Americans in California were striking the first legal blows against the practice.
In 1931, a dispute erupted over plans to segregate the grammar school in Lemon Grove, near San Diego.In 1931, a dispute erupted over plans to segregate the grammar school in Lemon Grove, near San Diego.
At the time, anti-immigrant sentiment was rampant in California, with nonwhites commonly barred from parks, pools and other places.At the time, anti-immigrant sentiment was rampant in California, with nonwhites commonly barred from parks, pools and other places.
When Lemon Grove created a separate building for Mexican-American students, their parents called it “La Caballeriza” — the stable.When Lemon Grove created a separate building for Mexican-American students, their parents called it “La Caballeriza” — the stable.
They organized a lawsuit and, against all odds, won. Historians recognize the case as the country’s first successful school desegregation case.They organized a lawsuit and, against all odds, won. Historians recognize the case as the country’s first successful school desegregation case.
Years later in largely segregated Orange County, five Mexican-American families opened a federal lawsuit, Mendez v. Westminster School District, that accused the district of discriminating against their children.Years later in largely segregated Orange County, five Mexican-American families opened a federal lawsuit, Mendez v. Westminster School District, that accused the district of discriminating against their children.
Again, the court agreed. In 1946, Judge Paul J. McCormick ruled that segregation violated the Constitution by suggesting “inferiority” among the children “where none exists.”Again, the court agreed. In 1946, Judge Paul J. McCormick ruled that segregation violated the Constitution by suggesting “inferiority” among the children “where none exists.”
The decision ultimately inspired the passage of a bill to desegregate California. It was signed by Gov. Earl Warren, who later joined the Supreme Court and presided over the Brown v. Board of Education case that overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine.The decision ultimately inspired the passage of a bill to desegregate California. It was signed by Gov. Earl Warren, who later joined the Supreme Court and presided over the Brown v. Board of Education case that overturned the “separate but equal” doctrine.
For uncertain reasons, neither Westminster nor Lemon Grove ever created a memorial to their civil rights legacies.For uncertain reasons, neither Westminster nor Lemon Grove ever created a memorial to their civil rights legacies.
A council member, Sergio Contreras, is trying to change that in Westminster. He’s proposed a “freedom trail” that would include a monument honoring the Mendez case.A council member, Sergio Contreras, is trying to change that in Westminster. He’s proposed a “freedom trail” that would include a monument honoring the Mendez case.
In Lemon Grove, the middle school named its auditorium after Roberto Ricardo Alvarez, the 12-year-old lead plaintiff in the desegregation lawsuit.In Lemon Grove, the middle school named its auditorium after Roberto Ricardo Alvarez, the 12-year-old lead plaintiff in the desegregation lawsuit.
Mr. Alvarez died in 2003 at 84. According to an obituary, he became a millionaire businessman who always wore a cowboy hat in tribute to his Mexican roots.Mr. Alvarez died in 2003 at 84. According to an obituary, he became a millionaire businessman who always wore a cowboy hat in tribute to his Mexican roots.
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.