Every AWA water users' costs have increased at least 2.5 times faster than the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Some costs have increased as much as 7 times faster than the CPI. AWA tells the public that the costs are increasing because of increases in fuel costs, electrical costs and State fees to the Agency. In reality, each of those costs is actually LESS than it was in 2006. The reasons for AWA’s huge increases vary from system to system, but high upper management salaries and subsidies to real estate speculators are where most of ratepayer funds are wasted. Salaries and benefits for operations at AWA have increased by $560,000 and debt service payments have increased by $1.2 million since 2006.
Many ratepayers haven’t seen the worst of their problems yet. On some systems, AWA has overspent their budget and has indebted ratepayers without asking for rate increases. The wasted funds will eventually need to be paid by ratepayers.
AWA will ask ratepayers for higher rates to repay the borrowed funds. Ratepayers can keep AWA from continuing to squander their money. They must first demand that AWA stop the waste. Ratepayers do have control, they can simply protest rate increases until AWA fixes its financial problems.
Amador Water Agency Service Map (click map for larger version)