A Clear Vision for San Diego

"We must put a stop to the endless cycle of water rate hikes on our residents! I pledge to cut rates by 15% and freeze them for five years without any delay in our infrastructure investment and while maintaining the highest standards for water quality." - Carl DeMaio

Reduce water rates by 15 percent and freeze rates for five years.
Carl has set the goal of reducing and freezing water rates without sacrificing our water quality or our ability to properly maintain water pipes. He has formed a task force to conduct a thorough examination of the water and wastewater departments.

This task force will examine reducing unnecessary and redundant positions, stabilizing water supplies by expanding desalination projects and the use of recycled water for irrigation, contracting out services and responsibilities, reforming salaries and benefits, revising the rate structure to provide incentives for conservation, and utilizing public-private partnerships.

Expand water supplies and secure San Diego's fair share.
Carl supports expanding water supplies and water infrastructure in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner. San Diego is, and will remain, dependent on sources of water outside our region, and Carl will fight to hold state and federal policymakers responsible for providing San Diego its fair share.

Eliminate all fees on solar projects and permits for energy efficient retrofits.
Carl believes that the City of San Diego has the opportunity to become a leader in renewable energy, not only in the operations of its own facilities, but also in the solar industry, water conservation and supply industry, and the clean tech cluster of San Diego's economy. Carl is calling for the elimination of fees on solar projects, which the city increased by 600% last year. The city must encourage and stimulate, not hinder, the development of solar energy and energy efficient construction in San Diego.

Expand Power Purchase Agreements.
Carl proposes expanding the city's use of Power Purchase Agreements to make our city government one of the most significant generators of solar energy with our city's own facilities in conjunction with private financing.