Misinformation from CFPUA Leadership Taints Upcoming Rate Hearings

In the February 5th Star News Article ”Utility urged to change rate structure” CFPUA treasurer Burrows Smith is quoted with saying “that Cape Fear Public Utility's rate structure is common practice for most utilities.” It's an apparent attempt to convince the public the CFPUA's tiered rate structure was the norm for water utilities in the state. Problem is, that’s not true at all.

Above is the slide presented to the CFPUA board.

More disturbing is that just before Smith’s interview with the Star News he had seen a presentation based on the August 2010 "Water and Wastewater Rates and Rate Structures in North Carolina" study written by the North Carolina League of Municipalities and the UNC Environmental. That study showed only 26% of utilities in North Carolina have the same rate as the CFPUA, not even close to being “the common practice for most utilities” that he claimed.

In a previous email Renzaglia stated “the State passed legislation that effectively cuts off funding to those utilities/muncipalities that did not have a tiered rate structure.” A review of North Carolina state law shows that’s not true either.

Smith and Renzaglia are the only two original board members left and defend the tiered rate structure they help put in place every turn. However, with five new board members in the past year, there is hope for meaningful change in the rate structure for families in New Hanover County.

Can these board members just say whatever they want regardless? Yes. So where is the accountability? Unfortunately, there is none. It seems to be a common strategy that’s being implemented. That is, if you say something enough times, people will believe it to be true, whether it is or not. A great way to manipulate public opinion and convince the newest CFPUA board members to blindly fall in line and support the status quo.

The bottom line is the CFPUA’s tiered rate structure punishes families for essential water needs and that’s wrong. That should be unacceptable to all board members. The current rate structure should be changed radically, if not done away with all together. For all the things the CFPUA is doing right, the rate structure is not one of them. It is government at it’s worst.