In our community we'll argue that you'll pay less because of efficiencies achieved. Instead of pumping two million gallons of water--treating it, putting chemicals in it, and distributing it through the community on a daily basis--we're only pumping and treating one million, so you're saving the costs associated with that or other energy efficiency initiatives. At the end of the day, we believe there's a bottom-line saving for the constituents of our community. We're in a market-competitive environment as municipalities, relative to property taxes payable, utility rates, etc., and council is very conscious of that as well.
On May 2nd, 2007. See this statement in context.