A Precursor to Gas Rationing? Tiered Water Rates

No doubt you've heard about the drought across the Southwest. As far as I can tell this is the fear motivator to institute water rationing in the form of tiered water rate structures. The goal is a good one: save water. But, does this scheme really save water? I have not found any comparative studies to gauge if this changes consumer behavior. One could surmise that this is a way to tax people by using an alternative method and stacking the deck.

Cities see a way to gouge higher water users because they use more water. Problem is that the base line between the first and second tier is set very low so that consumers go over it and into the more expensive tier right away. There seems to be no consideration on the size of your property, type of property, the size of your house, or the number of people living in it; no capacity, size or volume considerations, or ambient temperature for that matter. A single person living in a one bedroom apartment would get the same consideration as a family of five living on a rural ranch.

The city of Chino Hills started to go down this path, by halted with a simple pass through rate increase instead, but I think they will start a tiered rate soon. We moved to Victorville in October last year, and we quickly noticed a tiered rate structure. This, after they made a grab and acquired the local water districts in the area. Are cities grabbing water utilities to so they can institute rationing? It smells very fishy to me.

We have property in Couer D Alene Idaho. Out of curiosity, I Googled water rates there and there seems to be activity in the area supporting tiered rates. Does Idaho have a drought problem, too?

The way this typically goes down is that the city hires a 'consultant' who recommends a rationing program. It goes from there.

A precursor to gas rationing?