1998 to 2012 RLECWD Billing Comparison

RLE Net, NonRLENet Group and Others

I have come across a 1998 RLECWD bill and the bill for the same meter in 2012 and have made a comparison below.

Erwin Hayer

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     1998, June.  RLECWD 50 Year Anniversary.  A water bill for 2 months, 3/20 – 5/20, was $19+ which included 2,800 cf of water.  The previous Bill was for 2 Months was $18.00 which included 2,000 cf in the $18.00 minimum charge.  This was for a single family home of 1614 sq ft on a lot of 7761 sq ft with green grass.  (cf = cubic feet andccf = hundred cubic feet.)

2012, August.  The Bill for the same meter location as above for Aug 2012 was over $100 for 2 months and much of the grass is turning brown, mostly because of the low water pressure as the in ground sprinklers do not function as they were designed to do.

The water charge in 1998 follows;
5/8 inch meter bimonthly minimum charge = $18.00 and includes 2,000 cubic feet of water.
Tier 1 $0.20 per ccf from 2,000 to 5,000 cf.
Tier 2 $0.25 per ccf above 5000 cf.

The water charge in 2012 follows;
5/8 inch meter bimonthly minimum charge = $42.54 and includes 600 cubic feet of water.

Minimum charge for 5/8 in meter =        $42.54
Tier 1, 2000 cf at $0.56 per ccf=              $11.20
Tier 2, 2600 cf at $0.70 per ccf=              $18.20
Capitol Improvement Surcharge=            $19.00
Back Flow Device=                                      $10.00
                                                   ———
Total- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -=        $100.94

Consultant recommended a 150% rate increase in 2001 to meet the requirements of the 2000 Master Plan.

That would have raised the 2012 minimum charge to $45.00 which would include 2,000 cf of water

Minimum Charge                                        $45.00
Tier 1 $0.50 per ccf for 3,200 cf =           $16.00
Tier 2 $0.625 per ccf above 5,000 cf=    $0.00
Plus the a Back Flow Device for                $10.00

Would have been =      $71.00 instead of $100.94 

And the 2000/2003 Master Plan Priority 1 & 2 Capital Improvement Projects, C.I.P., could have been done before the end of 2004 and we would not have had 2 CDPH Compliance Orders and 1 Citation issued plus the outrageous General Counsel charges that are now going on and the loss of the liability insurance for the employees and directors.

The 150% consultant recommended rate increase in 2001 would have raised the bill on this parcel from $18,00 in 2001 to about $45.00 for 2 months and the 2000/2003 Master Plan C.I.P. could have been done at a much lower cost than the same C.I.P. today which is nearly 3 times as much to construct at today’s costs.  Yet, today, Oct 2012, the Priority 1 and 2 C.I.P.s have not yet been done. 

The problem is the Board did recommend a 100% rate increase and Mary Harris started the Committee for Responsible, Affordable Water, CRAW and fought that rate increase and all rate increases since to the point the rate increases were not even keeping up with inflation.  What happened to RESPONSIBLE?.

In my opinion, the perilous position of the RLECWD today is the direct results of Mary Harris, her friends, and C.R.A.W. since July 23, 2001, the last 11 years.  This has put all the ratepayers in an unknown position as the RLECWD is unable to insure that the supplied water is safe due to the continuing low pressure complaints and reports.

The actual increase from $18.00 (1998) to $100.94 (2012) amounts to $82.94.  This amounts to over a 350% rate increase since 1998 and one well may come on line shortly that should have been on line by 2004 or over 8 years ago.  Thanks to Mary Harris for this 8 year delay and a 350% rate increase due to her and CRAWs opposition to the 100% rate increase that was proposed in 2001.