Council yesterday approved Bylaw 393.2, the Utility Rate Bylaw, for the supply of water, wastewater and solid waste services to residents and customers. The bylaw is effective January 1, 2019.
“Revenues and expenses in the City’s self-supported utility departments are balanced in this year’s operating budget,” said Senior Manager of Financial Services Justin de Bresser. “An average household will see a combined utility bill increase of $12.90 a month.”
Water
The monthly water rate for 2019 will remain at $26.22 per month, and the per unit consumption rate will remain at $2.47 per cubic litre. The City’s bulk water dispensary system, which enables customers to use credit cards at the terminal as well as a prepaid account system, will increase to $4.75 per cubic meter.
Wastewater
The North Red Deer Regional Waste Water System became operational in 2018. The current model includes a flat monthly fee and a per consumption fee similar to the water rate model. For 2019, the fixed monthly rate will remain at $20.00 per month. The per unit consumption rate will increase from $2.15 to $2.65 per cubic meter of effluent and covers the variable costs of treatment and the charges by the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission.
Solid Waste
Residential solid waste rates will increase in 2019 by $3.90 to $31.76 per month. Apartment rates (four-plex units or more) will increase by $2.70 to $19.97 per unit per month, and modular home park rates will increase by $2.70 to $24.49 per month. Commercial rates will increase by $6.90 to $116.79 per month, per bin. Additional cardboard pickup will increase by $6.90 to $106.79 per month. Unscheduled pickups will be $58.39 per pickup for commercial waste and $53.39 for cardboard.
-Submitted by the City of Lacombe