At their regular meeting yesterday, Council approved Bylaw 393.3, the Utility Rate Bylaw, for the supply of water, wastewater and solid waste services to residents and commercial customers. The bylaw is effective January 1, 2020.
“An average household will see a combined utility bill increase of approximately $1.14 a month over last year,” said Senior Manager of Financial Services Mauricio Reyes. “The solid waste rate remains unchanged; however, water and wastewater rates see a slight increase based on cost recovery, as the City’s utilities are self-supported.”
Water
The monthly fixed water rate increased by 0.9 per cent, from $26.77 to $27.01 per month. The per unit consumption rate also increased by 0.9 per cent, from $2.47 to $2.49 per cubic metre. The base fee is used to cover fixed costs such as administration and water distribution costs. The per unit consumption rate is intended to cover the cost of water purchased from the regional water commission, as well as to account for water loss in the system.
As a result of new changes, bulk water rates have increased by 0.9 per cent, from $4.75 to $4.79 per cubic metre.
Wastewater
The City is a member of and receives services from the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Services Commission. The current model includes a flat monthly fee and a consumption fee similar to the water rate model. For 2020, the fixed monthly rate increased by 0.9 per cent, from $20.00 to $20.18 per month. The fixed monthly rate is used to cover fixed costs of the utility such as administration, debt payments and some operations.
The per cubic meter consumption rate for 2020 also increased by 0.9 per cent, from $2.65 to $2.67 per cubic metre of effluent. This rate covers the variable costs of treatment and the charges by the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater Commission.
Solid Waste
The solid waste utility includes residential garbage pickup, yard waste and composting and the recycling depot located on Wolf Creek Drive. The rates for 2020 remain unchanged from 2019, and are as follows:
• Residential solid waste rates remain at $ $31.76 per month.
• Apartment rates (4 Units or more) remain at $19.97 per unit per month.
• Modular Home Park rates remain at $24.49 per month.
• Commercial rates remain at $116.79 per month, per bin. Additional cardboard pickup remains at
$106.79 per month. Unscheduled pickups remain unchanged at $58.39 per pickup for commercial waste, and at $53.39 for cardboard.
-Submitted by the City of Lacombe