IID Survives

Last month, I mentioned that Imperial Irrigation District (IID) was facing partition into separate power and water companies (something that would end cross-subsides from power to water and from Coachella to Imperial Valley), but it appears that IID management has managed to negotiate a cease-and-desist from Rep Garcia.

Garcia faced the tricky task of reconciling the interests of the people of Coachella and the business interests of Imperial -- two groups she represents -- and she managed to do so by punting: Her "solution" is a typical mix of meetings, committees, agendas and other non-actions that will produce a lot of paperwork and press-releases (see press releases in the article) without disturbing the fundamental balances of power and payments. A pity.

Bottom Line: IID is still far from 21st 20th century business practices. As a result it will continue to squander its natural resources and impede proper economic decisionmaking in the region.