Tariffs can vary within the service area of a water company, depending on local costs.

Since so much has to be imported, the local cost of living is high.

Such companies sold power at varying rates according to local costs.

Washington would need to help offset these local costs.

Now, local government officials must pick up the entire increase in local costs from one year to the next.

The situation is made all the more absurd by unnecessary local costs.

The ultimate goal would be a total state takeover of the local costs, which are about $6 billion.

Industry executives say that could force productions to go elsewhere, given the local costs.

"The differences in school building size and local cost of living do not account for such significantly higher costs," according to the report.

However, the local cost for service is quite minimal.