Yes, environmental policies do impact kitchen table economics:
If there’s a dirty little secret about water conservation, it’s that it often puts pressure on utility operators to raise water rates. Less water consumed, after all, means less water sold.
Raleigh is projecting that its water system will take in 10 percent less revenue than budgeted during the fiscal year that ends June 30. The decline is being attributed to continuing conservation by customers as well as the recent run of rainy weather. And there are fewer new water customers this year because the recession has slowed Raleigh’s growth.
If conservation is voluntary and not government coerced, it’s a good thing. But there are economic trade offs. Despite the fanciful notions of some elected officials (e.g., Obama’s pledge to create 5 million new jobs to build a “green economy”), we can’t have our cake and eat it, too.
