The Legislature hereby finds and declares all of the following:
(a) The use of allocation-based conservation water pricing by public entities that sell and distribute water is one effective means by which waste or unreasonable use of water can be prevented and water can be saved in the interest of the people and for the public welfare, within the contemplation of Section 2 of Article X of the California Constitution.
(b) It is in the best interest of the people of California to encourage public entities to voluntarily use allocation-based conservation water pricing, tailored to local needs and conditions, as a means of increasing efficient uses of water, and further discouraging wasteful or unreasonable use of water under both normal and dry-year hydrologic conditions.
(c) The Legislature intends that allocation-based conservation water pricing is an alternative method that can be used by public entities to encourage water users to conserve water, increase efficient uses of water, and further discourage waste of water. The Legislature does not intend to limit the discretion of public entities to evaluate and select among different methods for conserving water or to create a presumption that the election to not use a particular method is a waste or unreasonable use of water by the public entity.
(d) Nothing in this chapter is intended to limit, or dictate, the design of rate structures that public entities may use to promote conservation by water users.
(e) Nothing in this chapter directs, or otherwise compels, a public entity to use allocation-based conservation water pricing.
(Added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 610, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2009.)