Q&A
Potential water rate increases during drought emergencies
1:27:41
·
135 sec
Council Member Jim Gennaro inquires about DEP's ability to request water rate increases from the Water Board during drought emergencies. DEP officials explain the process and historical context of such measures.
- Rate increases are considered a last resort option during severe drought emergencies
- DEP has the ability to request rate increases to discourage excessive water use
- The implementation and duration of any rate increases would be determined by the Water Board
Jim Gennaro
1:27:41
Right.
1:27:44
Okay.
1:27:44
Thank you.
1:27:54
Your question on New York City street trees.
1:27:57
I think we already did that.
1:28:03
Okay.
1:28:05
I know that as part of a if the if if the drought if if the drought goes to an emergency, I remember when I was reading the very excellent briefing paper that was prepared for me, that DEP can request the water board to raise water rates because of a water shortage emergency to deter people from, you know, using water, wastefully.
1:28:40
So question, has DEP ever requested the water board to raise water rates because of a shortage emergency?
1:28:48
And sub question a, if an increase was implemented, how much were rates, increased by?
1:28:56
And the next part, any rate increases implemented during a water shortage emergency.
1:29:00
Oh, are are the rate increases permanent or are they only in effect during the duration of the emergency?
1:29:06
This is really, you know, when we're at, like, a very desperate stage, but, has that ever happened?
1:29:13
And that that that still, according to my staff, is on the table as one of the tools in the toolbox to sort of cut back on water usage by increasing, the cost of water.
1:29:24
I'm not criticizing it.
1:29:25
I just wanna know what's going on.
1:29:29
Stumped you, didn't I?
1:29:30
No?
Beth DeFalco
1:29:33
Yeah.
1:29:33
Do you wanna Paul can talk about, what we've done historically, but, it it it's only in that very last stage of an emergency that that becomes an option and obviously, it would be, an option of last resort, but it is something that is available to us to discourage water use.
Jim Gennaro
1:29:53
Okay.
1:29:54
Yeah.
1:29:54
Paul, anything to add on that?
