April 8, 2010

Monterey County Herald

Subject: Applauding MPWMD

Editor, The Herald

The LWV of the Monterey Peninsula applauds Monterey Peninsula Water Management District's decision to protect Cal-Am ratepayers. Along with the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) and the Citizens for Public Water, the District sends a message to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), that the financial agreement to fund the Regional Project is unacceptable and most be renegotiated.

DRA - the consumer protection arm of the PUC- estimates total Cal-Am costs at $7,900 per acre-foot. This excludes costs to be paid by Cal-Am ratepayers for removing the San Clemente dam. The Department of Water Resources estimates the cost of other seawater desalination at $1,000 to $2,500 per acre-foot.

DRA finds the agreement lacks cost controls on the price of water and provides no recourse to ratepayers in the event costs skyrocket. Cal-Am would pay at least 95% of the cost of water perhaps for decades, while Marina Coast Water District pays only $149 per acre-foot for the foreseeable future. Cal-Am ratepayers have no direct representation regarding the project, yet bear all the risk and responsibility. Water bills will double or triple under the proposed agreement.

Those concerned about the agreement should write the Commission at public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or fax to (415) 703-2057.

Dennis Mar, President
LWV of the Monterey Peninsula