Consider the current water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. The town’s water utility is undercapitalized, and almost one-third of customers are behind on their bills . About one-sixth of customers are not even receiving bills. Yet it would be politically unfeasible for Jackson’s elected officials to cut off all those users, regardless of whether it would ultimately be more humane.
The problem is worse yet. Once customers are in the habit of not paying their utility bills, it gets harder to collect payment, even if future prices are much lower. Customers might expect the no-payment-necessary regime to continue, and to organize with that goal in mind. This is a common problem in lesser developed nations.
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