边际成本定价允许供应商确定生产额外单位水的成本。通过这样做，它为保存的水设定了一个可测量的值。边际成本分析对保护计划至关重要，因为影响保护的所有管理决策都需要成本和效益的比较。在现有设施内增加生产需要将额外销售产生的收入与较高的运营成本进行比较。此外，扩大产能的决定需要比较预期收入与新设施的资本和运营成本。 提出了一种将经济理论与综合资源规划实践相结合的水价设计方法。边际成本节约与可自由支配使用的变化进行比较，从而计算出保护附加费。这一附加费是一个强有力的保护价格信号，相对容易管理，并带来经济效益。包括7个参考文献、表格、图表。

Marginal cost pricing allows purveyors to determine the cost of producing additional units of water. By doing so, it places a measurable value on conserved water. Marginal-cost analysis is critical to a conservation program because all management decisions affecting conservation require a comparison of costs and benefits. Increasing production within existing facilities requires that the revenues derived from the additional sales be compared with the higher operations costs. Also, a decision to expand capacity requires a comparison between expected revenues and the capital and operations costs of the new facilities. An approach is presented for the design of water rates that combines economic theory with the practical aspects of integrated resource planning. Marginal-cost savings are compared with changes in discretionary use, resulting in the calculation of a conservation surcharge. This surcharge is a strong conservation price signal that is relatively easy to administer and that results in economic efficiency. Includes 7 references, tables, figures.