A break on bills would bring relief

Everyone knows by now — or should know — that it makes sense to keep a trickle of water running when the mercury drops into the sub-zero range. That’s the best way to avoid having your pipes freeze.
So here’s a modest suggestion: How about if city and town water utilities cut folks a break during this colder-than-usual season?
It doesn’t have to be much.
Even a 5 percent break on the water bill would be more than enough to cover the cost of the don’t-want-the-pipes-to-freeze trickle.
If our memory serves us correctly, something like that was done back in 1978 or 2003 when winter was just as unforgiving as this one has been.
And there have been times when cities and towns have made adjustments on water bills during droughts when folks watered their lawns.
A bit of relief when it comes to the water bill won’t make the winter go faster. It won’t make all this doggone snow go away. But it would provide assurance the people running our municipal utilities understand how tough it’s been the past few months.
Spring’s going to get here eventually, but municipal utilities can provide an ounce or two of sunshine now by providing rate relief for customers who are just trying to keep their pipes from freezing.
Is that too much to ask? —J.R.[[In-content Ad]]