NCSD Half Truth #6: "it will only cost $8 more per month"
NCSD often makes statements like "it will only cost $8 more per month"
This is not true estimates are it will be $32-$52 bi-monthly per NCSD bill.
The News reported “The average increase in a NCSD customer’s monthly bill was previously estimated at about $12, but LeBrun said that number likely will be closer to $8.” SMT 12/18/2011
NCSD has been unwilling to provide the water rates calculation of an increase of $8 per month for NCSD’s area that the news reported. NCSD letter 11/13/11 and NCSD letter 11/14/11
NCSD has not provided a current estimate of the cost of other area water rate increases.
How can we vote without an explanation of how the estimate went from
“Based on serving 4,100 customers, bimonthly water bills would rise by … $142 for Santa Maria water ..” 12/13/07 SMT NCSD to renegotiate SM water purchase
To
"Lebrun Said that number likely will be closer to $8.” SMT 12/18/2011
Who gets to have a lower cost and use the water that RWC pays for but can’t use because they don’t have a connection?
The costs are not limited to just 2000 AF/Y of water it could be 50% more without a public hearing.
NCSD is claiming it will bring in 2000 af/y but the pipe allows 3000 af/y now and 6200 af/y later with additional pipe and pumps.
The NMMA TG controls the actual amount required to be piped in. It can change it to the maximum at any time. If Ed Eby’s claim that we are over-pumping by 6000 afy is true, then as soon as the project is approved we should expect the NMMA TG will increase the requirement to the full 3000 afy if not more.
The NMMA TG has had No public hearing, No public input, No Brown act, No conflict of interest obligations. RWC, GSWC and WMWC have pre-agreed to pay what ever the NMMA TG requires. RWC has no representation on the NMMA TG. In any case GSWC and RWC represent the company and do not represent the actual customers.
Mike Lebrun, "It will be the basin management committee, there's no limitation of the amount of supplemental water we might actually have to bring in, in order to protect and maintain the basin health. In the stipulation there is a 2500 Af number then it's a more or less as the basin management committee defines or requires and that will be based on monitoring, actual water levels, It is important for us to understand that." 7/27/2005 NCSD agenda E-3) Supplemental Water Policy Discussion, Mike Lebrun Audio
Actual Estimated costs:
Estimated costs for 2000 AF/y or 3000 AF/y if required by the NMMA TG.
Estimate on the cost for the average customer, without the O&M costs of pumping the water up to Nipomo, the Maintenance cost and the Replacement costs and assuming that there will be a reduction in pumping costs for the wells not being run on the Nipomo Mesa and using
Lebrun's 66.68%/72.00%, 1/23/12 NCSD presentation
Lebrun's $1450, water costs, 8/23/11 NCSD presentation.
Expense for Electricity, $525,000, 2011/12 budget for #125 Water E2 page 24, pdf page 36
NCSD's water use for 2010 of 2370, NMMA TG 2010 Annual Report, page 18
NCSD's connections in 2010 of 4148, 2010 NCSD Urban Water Management Plan 2010, page 3-2
GSWC's customers of 13200, http://www.gswater.com/csa_homepages/santa_maria.html
RWC's connections of 921, http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/published/Final_resolution/141655.htm
