If Council members were willing to charge higher prices at any point before today, they might not be in their current bind. Even starting on February 15 with higher prices would allow the affected companies to develop ways to recycle water or find alternate sources instead of just going out of business. Arbitrary restrictions also mean higher prices in the future as the city tries to make up for its losses.
It’s worth noting that City Council has approved Mayor Meeker’s six bad ideas on water, but not his one good idea of a 50% temporary surcharge on some of the lowest water rates in the Triangle.
Roads are crumbling, but we don’t want toll roads. Water is in short supply, but we don’t want higher prices. It is no wonder that more governments are privatizing these activities. Private managers do not have to be reelected and can price according to conditions. The truly remarkable thing is that service and access improve and the additional income makes it possible to subsidize users with lower incomes.
