Does L.A.’s proposed water rate
structure discriminate against families?
The Department of Water and Power voted to reduce a residents basic allotment of water from 28 HFC to 24 HFC. Anything exceeding 24 HFC will now be charged a higher rate. This was proposed by the board to “encourage” residents to conserve. (Nothing was proposed by the board to encourage reductions in housing development that’s been driving most of the water demand in the last decade.)
The unfortunate result of reducing the basic (Tier I) allotment is that it hurts the pocketbook of households with three or more members, particularly those with kids. Single member households and couples will easily stay under the 24 HFC tier level.
However, households with children will end up paying more since water rates are not based on the number of people living in the home. If you have three or four children, each taking daily baths, brushing teeth, doing laundry for them, etc. you will obviously use more water, but probably less per capita than a one or two person household.
I just checked my February bill and my family used 25 HFC so we are going to be over our allotment and will have to pay extra if the city council approves it. Last year we were at 31 HFC so we already have reduced our consumption by 20%.
Take our current usage and divide it by four we only use 6.25 HFC per person or 3.12 HFC per person per month. That is roughly 2,330 gallons a month or 77 gallons a day per person. A family of 5? 59 gallons per day per person. Now we are getting into city enforced shower-free days.
A single person can use all 24 HFC (299 gals per day) and stay under the cap. A couple can use 12 HFC (150 gals per day) each and stay under the cap.
So who is getting penalized by the proposed water rate? Households with 3 or more members.
What they ought to do is go after the higher-consumption customers like those living in LADWP General Manager’s neighborhood.
Yep… The General Manager of the LADWP last year was outed using over 100 HFC in numerous billing cycles. 4 times my homes usage. The audit also notes that his neighbors also use from 2 to 4 times what we use in a month. My guess is that they don’t give a twit how much they pay or what Tier level they are in.
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