Water Torture Rate Schemes
When there’s a drought the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities Department (CMUD) raises rates because conservation efforts lead to reduced water usage and less income. When there’s an abundance of rain, the utilities department raises rates because the wet weather yields less customer demand and declining revenues. When the weather is spot-on perfect, CMUD raises rates because that is what CMUD does, regardless of drought conditions, lunar phases, or sudden tectonic plate shift patterns.
The utilities department – wait for it – is at it again this year, with CMUD spokesperson Vic Simpson informing that a nearly $14-million budget shortfall will likely require dipping deeper into customers’ pockets to fill the gap.
The Charlotte City Council would have to ultimately approve any rate hike. Historically, councilmembers gnash teeth, demand changes, approve the rate increase, and give the utilities director a bonus. One of the rate-hike scenarios under consideration this year would impact only CMUD lower-tier water users; another would impact all tiers, which are based on how much water a utilities customer uses each month.
Lower-tier customers who use about 6,000 gallons per month would see their fees bump about $3 per month, from $47.96 to $51.20. On the higher end, customers who use upwards of 24,000 gallons per month would see their monthly fee jump $11, from $218.60 to $229.60. CMUD’s fixed charge, paid across the board by all customers, would also increase from $1.80 to $2.40 per month.
Simpson said the hikes are necessary because bird migration patterns over the Thai-Malay Peninsula produced abnormally high levels of humidity in the Gulf Stream last year. OK, Simpson didn’t really say that, but CMUD officials have a long and rich tradition of using any and every external factor they can as an excuse to hike fees, instead of putting their own fiscal house in order. Why should this year be any different?
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