Matt Kingsley
RCRC Chair and Inyo County Supervisor
When you paid your electricity and gas bills this month, there was a small line item for a “public purpose surcharge.” This surcharge was there last month, the month before that, and for every month you’ve ever turned on a light. The primary purpose of this surcharge is to ensure that no Californian is forced to live in cold and darkness because their families make too little money to afford a fundamental necessity of life. All Californians chip in a tiny bit to subsidize reduced utility bills for the least well-off among us. But what about a resource even more vital and necessary than electricity and gas? What about water? There has never been such a surcharge for water, as it has historically been relatively inexpensive and universally available. Read More…