Why doesn Phoenix give rebates to encourage customers to reduce water use?
Rebates are offered by utilities to help achieve a goal. For water providers in Arizona, the goal is to reduce water use. The Arizona Department of Water Resources sets conservation goals for each water provider with a timeframe to reach the required reductions. Through good management practices and the water conservation efforts by our customers, Phoenix has been able to achieve and surpass its goal without financial incentives. If Phoenix provided rebates for replacing toilets or converting to desert landscaping on a large scale, the cost would need to be covered by a rate increase or a tax revenue subsidy to pay for it. In either case, Phoenix water customers would ultimately foot the bill. The success of current water use reduction by our customers indicates that it is not good way to use those revenues. Why doesn’t Phoenix just stop growth to save water? Back to Top Fortunately, meeting current and future water demands during times of drought does not require stopping growth in Ph
Through good planning, Phoenix is able to provide sufficient water to current customers. Water savings through conservation by current customers becomes surplus water to be used — if and when — there is a shortage of surface water. However, additional water supplies are needed to support the growing population. It is the policy of Phoenix that new development and new customers should pay their proportionate share of the cost to provide adequate water. Fees to secure our water supply are assessed for new homes and businesses at the time the developer begins a new building project.
