"Progressive pricing encourages awareness of water scarcity": the increase in water prices has not gone unnoticed in Saint-Paul-de-Vence

" Why did they refuse to give us the water price list?" Jean-Paul Faure, an opposition municipal councillor ("Saint-Paul à cœur") in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, is exasperated by what he describes as "a lack of transparency" .

Because in June, residents received their water bills. And "a certain amount of excitement spread because, as we have been announcing for several months, for most Saint-Paulois, the increase is around 18.4%" , notes the elected official who notes that the rates were finally "published on the town hall website" following "strong reactions from Saint-Paulois" .

"The increase following the award of the public service delegation contract to Suez, on January 1, 2025, is 15.5% for a typical bill of 120m3 , corrects Florence Chevassus, director of Sievi (1). This brings the price per m3 to 2.44 euros including tax compared to 2.11 euros previously."

The reason for this increase is simple: the change of delegate "because certain elements were provided for in the contract such as the carrying out of works."

2.7 million euros for a micro-turbine at the Bouyon plant

"In reality, you have to keep in mind that in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, until December 31, 2024, there were two public service delegation contracts, depending on the sectors: one managed by Sievi, the second by the municipality. However, in 2020, the State gave the urban communities the possibility of taking over water responsibility. The municipality belongs to Casa [Sophia Antipolis urban community] but Sievi already having a delegation contract for part of the City, it was decided that it would take over the whole thing after a common end date for both contracts in order to start with a single one on January 1, 2025. Suez was designated as the delegate at the end of the procedure. Four main components are included in the document: hydraulic performance, remote reading [as for Linky electricity meters, Editor's note] , regulatory action with network mapping and the implementation of a micro-turbine at the Bouyon water production plant to produce electricity to operate it. This last item represents an investment of 2.7 million euros excluding VAT. All of this is the responsibility of Suez and these investments are reflected in the bill."

An increase in taxes to be paid to the State

But that's not the only explanation for the increase in the reference bill. "Taxes paid to the State via the Water Agency have also increased, " comments Florence Chevassus. "We don't have decision-making power over this, but it must be understood that of the +15.5%, 6% represents this tax reform."

She continues: "Furthermore, we must be careful when making comparisons. For this, we are referring to a consumption of 120m3, which concerns on average 60% of subscribers. However, the pricing is based on consumption levels. The elected officials have decided to apply the logic of 'the more we consume, the more expensive the price per m3 is'. Thus, for 50m3 per year, the bill is lower. On the other hand, those who use a lot of water are penalized. Progressive pricing encourages awareness of water scarcity and sobriety," notes the director of Sievi.

In other words, for basic needs, the price is low, but when it comes to filling a large swimming pool, you have to pay because it's no longer essential. A policy embraced by Sievi.

This does not convince the opponent. Jean-Paul Faure persists and calls for "the launch of an independent study to evaluate the exit of Saint-Paul from the Sievi and its connection to the Casa water service."

1. The Estéron and Var inférieurs union, founded in 1934, brings together 16 communes and is currently chaired by Jean-Pierre Camilla, the mayor of Saint-Paul-de-Vence.