Assembly casts bipartisan vote to support Wolk water conservation bill

Bill encourages use of rate structure that rewards consumers who conserve water

SACRAMENTO–The State Assembly cast a 72-1 bipartisan vote today to support Assembly Bill 2882, legislation by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to encourage public water agencies throughout the state to adopt conservation rate structures that reward consumers who conserve water.

 “Allocation-based rate structures are effective conservation tools, shown to achieve dramatic water savings without significant taxpayer investment,” said Wolk. “This bill expands the opportunity for urban water suppliers to put this critical tool to use.”

While existing law authorizes water agencies to promote conservation using rate structures, some agencies are concerned that such structures may not meet the requirements of Proposition 218, state law enacted by voters in 1996 to restrict the use of revenue tools such as water rates to finance local services. Wolk’s legislation provides agencies with the clarity necessary for legal implementation of these rate structures.

The bill does not require all water agencies to adopt conservation rates, but for those who do it establishes standards that protect consumers by ensuring a lower base rate for those who conserve water and requiring that higher rates for use in excess of the base rate do not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the water service.

“At a time when California faces significant and ongoing water supply challenges, this legislation allows us to go further in improving and expanding water conservation across the state,” said Wolk.