STRENGTHS OF TIERED WATER RATES
WATER CONSERVATION
Tiered Water Rates “encourage the efficient use of water by charging customers more as water use increases.”
In Tucson, the annual water use in a single-family home has gone down resulting in a 42% reduction in water use.
In 1985, a single-family home used 116,328 gallons of water annually. As a result of tiered water rates, the annual water use dropped down to 73,981 gallons in 2015.
INCOME REDISTRIBUTION
Tiered Water Rates “causes large water users (who pay more than average revenue) to subsidize small users (who pay less).”
The City of Tucson has a limited income assistance program where qualified customers can recieve a monthly discount on their utility bills.
PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON TIERED WATER RATES
“Tiered water rates provide an incentive to reduce water consumption. At times that means I water less in higher demand seasons (summer) and pay more attention to water leaks inside the home.”
“I think it’s a way to encourage people to be as frugal as possible with their water usage.”
“High water users should be encouraged to rethink water usage. Tiered water rates push that consideration by adding an economic incentive (in theory).”
“I suppose that if it encourages people to use water more sparingly then I don’t see it as a negative. It’s good to be aware of the water usage in your household for environmental reasons.”