I thought the message had already been sent, but I guess not. Hello Anti-Poverty Commission.
Excerpt from today’s Times Dispatch:
On an annual basis, Richmond’s minimum charge for water really puts a dent in the budget of a low-income resident. While in Norfolk the minimum annual cost per consumer for water/sewer service is only $12, in Henrico annually it is $195.24, and in Richmond annually it is a whopping $564.36!
This is a conservation issue: There is little incentive to conserve water in Richmond because the city finances the lion’s share of its water works through the minimum service charge. The cost per CCF of water is kept artificially low so you don’t feel much of a pinch when you use more water. It would encourage conservation if Richmond slashed the minimum service charge while raising the cost for each CCF of the resource.
This is a social justice issue: Richmond’s outrageous minimum water/sewer service charge shifts the burden of financing the city’s water supply disproportionally onto those who use the least water, and often unto those who can least afford it. For a senior citizen on fixed income, the water bill will often be the largest bill of the month, even if minimal water is used. It is unjust to require low-income residents of Richmond to pay a whopping $564.36 in minimum service fees annually just to be connected to the water supply. Water is a necessity that no one can do without.
Here is a revenue-neutral proposal. Let’s revamp Richmond’s water rates by lowering the minimum monthly charge for water and sewer service to $15 per month, while raising the cost per CCF of water in line with the neighboring counties. As sure as the spring showers, the summer droughts will follow. Richmond should have a price structure in place that encourages conservation of this important resource while giving those on fixed income a fair deal.
(Sorry if you are tired of editorials on this site this week. I did not have any control on when the TD piece would come out.)
Nice article Scott! Tell them as they have not listened for many years about this important issue!
Agree completely. The minimum fee is ridiculous, especially for one-person households. Thanks for the article Scott.
People are raising the roof over the proposed $1 monthly service fee for EZ-Pass on the toll roads, and meanwhile the city is raising the monthly service fee for water/sewer to $49.40. Outrageous! I got my water use down to 1 ccf only to discover that the bill remained high and was not in proportion to my low consumption. The result is that, by means of the minimum service charge, those using the least water are actually subsidizing and keeping the rates low for those who waste water and are not careful with their consumption.
Our waste of water is felt downstream, in lower flow & higher concentration of pollutants. The long look at the future implications of the current policy includes more than local Richmonders standing up to speak out against this up-side-down water pricing; water needs all the way down the James River could be unified into some sort of conservation action taken at the state level, including billing proportional to water use.
Another bad policy by this liberal overspending city. I can’t believe I continue to live in the city limits. I’m going to finally give up soon and move to henrico.
Tired of the taxes!!!!
Channel 6 has now picked up on the water rates issue!
http://wtvr.com/2012/05/24/richmond-residents-pay-nearly-double-for-water/
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I so agree, Charles. I actually recycle water and flush only when necessary. Why should I pay as much as people who water their lawns unnecessarily. There should be a billing system with a cap on it and if a consumer goes over that amount, his rate should go up. Conservation must be rewarded, and waste must be penalized.