Utility bylaw to save for future infrastructure, change billing for St. Paul residents

“The bills are gonna look different, and the ability to have that transparency per line is important to us,” said Mayor Maureen Miller. 

The Town of St. Paul is proposing changes to their utility bylaw, which would change billing times, reduce the rates, but also had a fee component to save money in the future for infrastructure improvements. 

Town council met last Thursday night and passed the first reading of the bylaw, following work with a consultant. Amendments were presented during the meeting which will be applied before second reading. 

“The whole purpose of that was transparency,” said Mayor Maureen Miller on The Morning After about how the bills will look when ratepayers receive them. 

“We’re trying to be proactive in making sure we’ve got a reserve set aside specifically for all of those utility replacements down the road, as well as the actual charge of consumption.” 

The most noticeable change to the account holders proposed by the bylaw, Miller said, is the switch to monthly billing instead of bimonthly billing. 

Miller said the water rates are recommended to be reduced. 

Right now, the cost is $1.60 for a cubic metre, which will drop to $1.31 per cubic meter. The sewer consumption presently is decreasing from $1.20 to $1 per cubic meter. Both the water and sewer will see adjustments to the fixed fee, though, Miller said. 

“That’s exactly what I was referring to. Being proactive in making sure we create the longevity from the financial perspective, this is where account holders will notice the increase.

“For residents who form the vast majority of our accounts, they will see a 15 per cent increase to the fixed water service charge previously called the water flat rate. These charges are based on the fixed expenses that the town related to the treatment and distribution of water and sewer. 

“For example, staff salaries, as I just alluded to, the building insurances, the debt resurfacing will all play a cost in those utilities. The particular service charge will see an increase in value for any water metre size. So it’s based on the water meter. Ninety per cent of us are at five-eighths of an inch. As mentioned previously, the majority of our users will operate on this five-eighth meter rate. The five-eighth meter is the increment that everyone follows. Following that, under this bylaw, it would become $17 a month versus $28.76 for two months using this size meter as a base rate. The same formula applies to any size meter beyond.

“On the sewer side of things, accounts will see the previous sewer flat rate go from $26.76 for two months to $36.10 per month. Additionally, a separate charge of $17 a month of water and $9 a month for sewer will be included as a capital replacement. As I just alluded to, it’s all of the replacement. It isn’t just the facilities themselves, it’s all of our infrastructure. That’s going to be put away for hopefully replacing our system in the future.”

The bylaw needs two more readings before its passed. The draft of the bylaw can be read here.

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