Boy – these ALEC companies just want to keep the ALEC
press coming. I am so proud of
them. They open up all kinds of lines of
communication of, by and for ALEC. Unfortunately for ALEC the press isn't good.
An influential trade association
representing companies that provide water services to one in four Americans
says it will continue its membership with the American Legislative Exchange
Council, a conservative group that has worked with the energy industry to
create loophole-filled water protections and opposes federal oversight of
fracking.
The National Association of Water
Companies represents the far-reaching privatized water utility industry that
serves “nearly 73 million people every day,” according to the association’s
website. NAWC represents more than 150 private water companies, each of whom
pay an annual fee to the association. Its board of directors is drawn from the
leadership of some of the country’s largest water companies.
NAWC works with ALEC to persuade
state and local officials to adopt policies favorable to the private water
industry.
In relation to this
Water privatization efforts have
been growing rapidly both in the United States and abroad without strong public
scrutiny and supervision of these deals. Although there has been much effort to
promote private-sector involvement by relaxing financial constraints and
government oversight, governments have failed to establish clear guidelines for
public access and supervision, monitor the public interest, and ensure public
participation and transparency with regard to water privatization contracts or
agreements.(1)
Who protects the public better – private companies or the
government?
Public companies report to the stockholders.
Government reports to the people.
And that’s exactly what the article goes on to point out
The profit motive may provide
private water companies with incentives to avoid conservation and efficiency measures
since profits depend upon volumes of water sold. Also, the privatization of
water utilities has posed risks of rate hikes, inadequate customer service, and
reduced local control. Rates have increased as a way for private water
companies to maximize profits in many U.S. communities where water has been
privatized. Since the company is under little pressure to respond to consumer
concerns, this may result in poor customer service. Private water suppliers by
nature are beholden to their stockholders rather than to the public, and may
not have economic incentives to make long-term investments in infrastructure
and water quality monitoring
Further, once water rights have
been signed over, very little can be done to ensure that the private company
will work in the best interest of the community. After being exposed to these
risks, major cities in Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Louisiana have
canceled water management contracts with private companies or taken steps to
buy back the assets of privately-owned water utilities.
The ALEC experimental propaganda of free enterprise in
the public sector fails again!
And you have these examples horror stories of privatized water:
A small, private water company in
Southwest Missouri is in the news because one of its pumps failed a few weeks
ago. The Joplin Globe has the story (link via Combest). A key pump failed, the
company was unable to fix the problem immediately, and for a few days the town
— and the fire department — didn’t have a water supply.
In Texas
Across the state, a growing number
of suburban Texans are getting their water from large, private corporations
owned by investors seeking to profit off the sale of an essential resource.
State figures show private companies are seeking more price increases every
year, and many are substantial.
The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, which regulates water and sewer rates for nonmunicipal
customers, doesn't keep numbers, but "their rate increases tend to be 40
and 60 percent," said Doug Holcomb, who oversees the agency's water
utilities division.
And we are familiar with the private sector’s habit of “one hand
washing the other”
Shocking Conflict of Interest: Private Water Companies Partner With
Fracking Lobby
Selling water to drillers, two of the nation's biggest private water
utilities may soon profit from treating the wastewater.
April 19, 2012 |
Two of the country's largest
private water utility companies are participants in a massive lobbying effort
to expand controversial shale gas drilling -- a heavy industrial activity that
promises to enrich the water companies but may also put drinking water
resources at risk.
And people like you can and are making a difference (my emphasis)
“In passing House Bill 1389, the
legislature acknowledged the serious problems that customers of Aqua Florida
Utilities, the largest investor owned utility in the state, have been dealing
with. The study commissioned by this
bill will help address thousands of pages of complaints from Aqua customers who
for years have opposed the company’s exorbitant rates and poor service.
Stand up against the privatization experiment of public services.
The ALEC privatization experiment of public
services is not good for America.
What’s good for ALEC and ALEC profit sector members is
not good for America.
ALEC is not good for America.
DESTROY ALEC!
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