Zetland (Aguanomics) recounts a common water supply problem (like the one here in Israel):
Our problem: Israeli water supply is managed by an entrenched monopoly that is not sensitive to market economy.(1) Water agencies ask customers to use x% less water, often increasing restrictions on water use. (Illustration: Water Saving Campaign in Israel, showing how celebs's face dries out. Horrible)
(2) Customers cut use by 2x%, reducing agency sales below projections based on x% reductions.
(3) To cover the gap between revenue and expenses, agencies raise prices, reduce services and/or tap reserve funds -- upsetting customers who feel they are being penalized for cutting back.(4) Water agencies cut back on conservation programs, hoping that customers will use more water (!) and thus provide revenue...
5 comments:
A few weeks ago you stated that a family of four gets allocated 3 cubic meters of water a month, and every m3 more than that runs $6. What is the base charge for the first 3 cubic meters?
About 2 $ (1 $ for water, the rest sewage)
Ok, give me a day or two and I'll post a summary of my water bill from the city of Mesa. I have to run though.
Ok, I downloaded my current bill from the City of Mesa which includes water sewer and trash combined. My total bill for all services is $74.49 for the perod running from 8/21-9/22 is $74.49.
Here is my bill broken by type of service:
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Water usage: 5 kilogallons.
water charges:
*Connection size service charge: $13.69
*W1.1 Residential Western Zone $11.50
*State Superfund Water Use Tax $0.03
*Total Taxes $2.03
*Total Water Charges $27.25
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Wastewater
*S1.1 Minimum Charge $10.49
*S1.1 Residential Inside City $9.87
*Total Waste Water Charges $20.36
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Solid Waste
*R1.2 Res 90 Gal Trash/Recycle Svc (1.00 units) $23.34
*Mesa Clean and Green Fee (1.00 units) $0.54
*Total Solid Waste Charges $23.88
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Other Fees
*Federal Environmental Compliance on 9/23/09 $3.00
*Total $3.00
I used to live in an apartment complex and I was billed for these services separately. Since my apartment did not have an individual meter I was assigned a portion of the common water bill based on the number of water fixtures and the number of tenants in my apartment. Since I did not report my mother and brother had moved into my apartment I was paying about $25/month for water, sewer and trash. Had I reported my two relatives my bill would probably have been about $40.
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