Water: public entity: water usage demand analysis.

Existing law authorizes a public entity that supplies water at retail or wholesale within its service area to adopt, in accordance with specified procedures, and enforce a water conservation program. This bill would require a public entity, as defined, to conduct a water usage demand analysis, as defined, prior to completing, or as part of, a cost-of-service analysis conducted to set fees and charges for water service that are consistent with applicable law. The bill would require a public entity to identify, within the water usage demand analysis, the costs of water service for the highest users, as defined, incurred by the public entity, and the average annual volume of water delivered to high water users. The bill would also require the costs of water service for the highest users and the average annual volume of water delivered to high water users to be made publicly available by posting the information in the public entity's cost-of-service analysis. By requiring a higher level of service of public entities, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to all cities, including charter cities. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.