[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 4/8/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

April 8, 2008

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People

 

IID customers might get say on its board

Desert Sun – 4/8/08

By Keith Matheny, staff writer

 

COACHELLA VALLEY - Imperial Irrigation District customers in the Coachella Valley could have a greater say over the public agency's rates and other policies under a bill by state Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia.

 

But IID officials bitterly oppose the bill, saying it is a potential threat to the viability of their agency and the significant Colorado River water rights it holds in trust for Imperial Valley farmers and residents.

 

Nearly two-thirds of IID's approximately 140,000 energy customers are in the Coachella Valley, from Washington Street eastward.

 

If those customers have concerns over a rate hike or fee change, their options are writing a letter, making a call or attending a board meeting to voice concerns. What they can't do is vote on IID's board of directors because its district boundaries are entirely in Imperial County.

 

"The way we're growing in this area, I would think our input should be of some value," said Indio resident and IID rate-payer Esther Mulherin.

 

Garcia, R-Cathedral City, cited numerous concerns at IID.

 

"Yet the very people that pay their bills, the base of their business, have no say in what's going on," she said.

 

Garcia's bill would require any irrigation district with more than 50,000 energy service connections, 75 percent of which are outside the district's boundaries, to place on the ballot of the next general election a proposal for voters to consider reorganizing to form a separate utility district for providing electrical service.

 

The votes would then be counted from customers within irrigation boundaries and energy customers outside the boundaries.

 

If a majority of both in-district and out-of-district voters support reorganization, a new utility district would be created to provide electricity in the entire area.

 

If most out-of-district energy customers voted for reorganization but most in-district voters opposed it, a new utility district for electricity distribution would be created for the outlying areas.

 

If both in-district and out-of-district voters opposed a reorganization, the irrigation district's board would take no further action.

 

IID does not meet the threshold of having 75 percent of its energy customers outside of its district boundaries now. But it is likely to hit that mark soon, Garcia said. Some 50,000 new rooftops are expected in the valley over the next 10 years, she said.

 

Coachella City Manager Tim Brown said he wants to study Garcia's proposal more closely, but he supports its general concept.

 

"Most of the energy customers are up here, not down in Imperial," he said. "We should have a say-so in what happens, as we're their major rate-payers. We should have representation."

 

IID: A 'bad' idea

 

But IID board president John Pierre Menvielle said the idea is a bad one that would be "very damaging" in the Coachella and Imperial valleys.

 

"If you ever split the water from the power, you're going to have problems," he said. "It's going to increase the cost of water, and it's going to increase the cost of energy."

 

IID has one of the oldest, highest-priority and largest water allotments on the Colorado River. It receives more river water than the states of Nevada and Arizona.

 

Officials worry Garcia's legislation could lead to a resource grab away from the Imperial Valley, Menvielle said.

 

"If you ever take the water out of the hands of the (Imperial Valley) public, you'll end up drying this place up," he said.

 

Brawley farmer James Abatti has similar reservations.

 

"Our water rights have been in jeopardy since the urban areas have been demanding more water, and the drought continues," he said.

 

"I think it's another ploy to exploit our water in one way or another."

 

Imperial residents feel so strongly about it, they'll likely vote to sell off the energy business in the Coachella Valley before putting water rights at risk, Abatti said.

 

Garcia disputed Imperial concerns about her bill affecting their river rights.

 

"This has zero to do with water," she said.

 

IID has rights to sell energy in the Coachella Valley through a 99-year compromise officials in both counties signed in 1934 to clear the way for federal money for construction of the All-American Canal.

 

Menvielle said he hopes he can sit down with Garcia and propose a solution, perhaps strengthening and giving greater influence to an energy consumer advisory committee that includes Coachella Valley representation.

 

Garcia's bill is set for a hearing at the end of the month. She said she is scheduled to meet with IID representatives in Sacramento later this week. #

http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080408/NEWS01/804080303/1006/news01

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