WATER WORRIES

I read in yesterdays news that Cal Water, who supplies our water here in Bakersfield is going to be raising their rates by 25%. They have asked for approval to increase rates for water service throughout the state by 19.4 percent in 2014, another 3 percent increase in 2015 and yet another 2.9 percent in 2016.

Cal Water serves 67,000 customers in Bakersfield and another 4,300 customers in Kern River Valley. The rate hike for Kern River Valley comes out to more than 44 percent over a three year period. To some this is the only water utility available to them, its not as if they can simply switch to another company to provide their water.

Among the reasons for the substantial, by any measure, increase cited were 1) to pay for its employee benefits. In a notice sent to customers, Cal Water Service noted that $1.5 million was needed to "retain the same level of employee health care, pensions and retiree benefits for district personnel" and 2) is needed in order to maintain the quality of the city's system, said Paul G. Townsley, the company's vice president.

I was surprised at such an increase, our water bill already averages around $300 a month and in the hotter summer months of June through September, closer to $500, but short of going to ‘desert’ landscaping, we expect to pay more those months to maintain ‘luxuries’ such as our pool, landscaped gardens and my vegetable garden. Were we to be living in this area our remaining days I can see where we’d be reconsidering keeping any of those things!

As long as one has a decent paying job or a comfortable retirement income the news of such a hike probably is just a blip on their radar, sure, no one likes to pay more for anything, but I imagine to most in this desert valley I am sure the news is dispairing indeed! The unemployment rate in Bakersfield remains at 14%, and it seems to me most jobs here are in low paying agricultural jobs or the service industry. Anyone living on a fixed or low income is going to suffer greatly with an increase of this nature. Water is not a luxury (unless used for recreational purposes or in lush landscaped gardens, which, trust me, most low income people do not have), it is a necessity of LIFE. One wonders how so many will adapt, what will be their choice…drink less, bathe less, clean their homes less, grow fewer gardens which help to reduce their food costs (even as we see food prices continue to rise)….all of these I imagine.

Cal Water states it is “only” for three years. Well sadly we know how that goes, just like in politics, bad legislation, once instated, is near impossible to get rid of. There are surely alternatives to an across the board hike in rates, perhaps rate increases above a certain level of use, so those who use the most pay more for it. Why not propose something similar to the Presidents suggestion to increase taxes on the wealthiest of americans who can afford to pay more? Of course those ‘wealthiest’ amongst us are fighting tooth and nail to avoid paying even their fair share, so those less fortunate (the remaining 95%) are required to make up the shortfall (created by the loopholes lawyers and accountants which only the wealthy can afford to emply, and the hidden offshore bank accts ) to maintain programs so necessary in a civilized society.

But I’m getting off track, but its easy to do when its all part and parcel anymore. The news articles stated it will be awhile before any decision is made on the matter. CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission) could reject all of the proposal or grant a lesser amount than what Cal Water Service is asking.

"Water flows uphill towards money". ~Anonymous, saying in the American West, quoted by Ivan Doig in Marc Reisner, Cadillac Desert, 1986