Water and sewer rates change Jan. 1
Administrator | Dec 16, 2010 | Comments 1
Users of Prince Edward County’s water and wastewater systems will see rate changes over the next four years to cover increasing operating and capital costs, as stipulated by legislation such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Sustainable Water and Sewage Systems Act. Municipalities must raise adequate revenues to cover the costs of providing water and wastewater services to meet regulated standards.
To ensure compliance with the Act, Council established an ad hoc committee to examine the current water and wastewater system’s fees and charges as they pertain to operating and growth-related costs. The committee included residential users from the Picton, Wellingtona nd Carrying Place Consecon service areas, a commercial/industrial user, Prince Edward County developers and four councillors and the mayor, representing council.
The committee, which met 11 times over a seven-month period, studied the matter in depth and recommended a four-year rate structure based on a 20-year operating and capital forecast that would ensure:
* Stable and predictable rates,
* Standardized user rates be applied throughout the County to ensure everyone is treated equally,
* Water and wastewater services can be sustained over the long-term and,
* New development, not current users, will pay for any increases in capacity needed because of growth.
The recommendations were approved by council and will take effect Jan. 1, 2011.
“In an unprecedented period of economic growth in the County, the demands on municipal services have increased. We needed to ensure that the services capacity could manage this growth responsibly, over the long-term, and that users would be treated fairly throughout the County,” said councillor Bev Campbell, chair of the ad hoc committee.
Click the link for the full, final report, with details on the new rates:
http://www.pecounty.on.ca/pdf/NewWaterRates2011andreport_000.pdf
Filed Under: Local News
The above rates incorporate substantial increases in town water charges for 2011, and in wastewater charges for several years. Here is some information on how the higher rates will affect monthly charges for these services. (Monthly charges are shown, but the County bills every two months.)
In 2011, there will be a 24% increase in the monthly charge to the average (3-person) household on town water, with minimal increases for the following three years. If you paid $43 per month in 2010, you’ll pay $53 in 2011 and $55 in 2014. Exceptions: Consecon / Carrying Place, where the increase is being deferred for one year, and Rossmore / Fenwood, where rates are already at the higher level.
Following a 14% increase for 2010 in the monthly wastewater charge to the average household in Picton and Wellington, there will be three years of further substantial increases – 17% in 2011, 17% again in 2012, 15% in 2013 and a more modest 5% in 2014. If you paid $50 per month for wastewater services in 2010, you’ll pay $58 in 2011, increasing each year to $82 in 2014.
For Picton and Wellington residents now paying $92 per month in total water and wastewater charges, your monthly charge will be $111 in 2011, increasing to $137 in 2014 – 49% more, spread over 4 years.