In a recent interview with <i>Energy Circuit</i>, Office of Ratepayer Advocates director Dana Appling promised that ORA would adhere to its roots as a ratepayer group to ?ensure rates are as low as possible.? She added, however, that including social issues other than rates?particularly environmental issues?would not be ruled out. ?We have to take a broader social view without getting away from our initial mandate,? Appling stated. She said that by inserting environmental policies into the ratepayer role, the argument could be more long-term. For instance, Appling noted that regulators could design cheap water rates today, but that could mean much higher rates in the future when supplies dwindle.