Re: 'Hard times for ratepayers but not FPUD employees' [Letter, Village News, 8/7/08]

In response to Archie McPhee’s letter, I provide the following:

I chaired the meetings that established the policies and implemented the FPUD Drought Management Plan. Stage 1 of the FPUD Drought Plan, asks ratepayers to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 10 per cent. Further, FPUD will not allow expansion of the FPUD service area, but will continue to provide water to our existing service area customers; who have been paying taxes and fees on their yearly tax bills. At Stage 2 and higher (which includes water rationing, where ratepayers will be required to save water with allocations and fines for failure to save) Meters will no longer be available for new hookups in most circumstances. The FPUD philosophy is not to increase our customer base and water demand while requiring our existing customers to reduce water consumption.

Orange Grove Energy is purchasing recycled water from FPUD to cool their proposed power plant. FPUD has a surplus of recycled water that is piped into the Pacific Ocean near Oceanside. FPUD has also entered into an option agreement to provide Orange Grove Energy with potable water. This option is financially lucrative for FPUD and its ratepayers and allows Orange Grove Energy to continue their permit approval process. In the agreement FPUD will not provide Orange Grove Energy with potable water as long as a Stage 1 or higher drought condition exists. In our current Stage 1 condition, Orange Grove Energy will only be allowed to purchase additional recycled water.

There was also incorrect information in Mr. McPhee’s letter regarding “our/FPUD’s allotted potable water supply”. There isn’t such a thing. We purchase the water that our M&I rate payers require from the San Diego County Water Authority. There are no current restriction on our purchases, although we have been asked to save water; “The 20 Gallon Challenge”.

Interruptible Water Users (AG users) who in the past entered into a contractual agreement with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to purchase surplus water at a below market rate have been required to reduce their demand by 30 percent. There is an allocation for these users. This reduction, when water supplies are short, was a condition of that contract.

Bert Hayden

President

FPUD Board of Directors

Mr. Hayden’s letter is being printed in two parts in the Village News. Part one is being published August 21, 2008 and part two on August 28, 2008. It appears here in its entirety.