Balmoral residents might need to budget for a proposed utility rate increase.
The RM of Rockwood has applied to the Public Utilities Board for revised water and wastewater utility rates. Council gave first reading to a bylaw regarding these rates in September 2023.
As a provincial regulatory agency, the Public Utilities Board reviews and approves water and wastewater utility rates in Manitoba, except for the City of Winnipeg.
The current quarterly service charge in Balmoral is $15.95, plus $1.05 per cubic metre for water and $1.90 per cubic metre for wastewater.
The proposed bylaw would see those rates rise to $21 for the quarterly service charge in Year 1, $22 in Year 2 and $22.50 in Year 3. As well, the water charge per cubic metre would increase to $2 in Year 1, $2.50 in Year 2 and $3.50 in Year 3.
Similarly, the wastewater charge per cubic metre would increase to $2.75 in Year 1, $3.25 in Year 2 and $4.25 in Year 3.
The minimum quarterly charge would increase from the current $60.20 to $92.25 in Year 1, $108.25 in Year 2 and $138.75 in Year 3 or annually from the current $240.80 to $369 in Year 1, $433 in Year 2 and $555 in Year 3.
The proposed changes also include increases to bulk water sales, the disconnection and reconnection fee, hydrant fee and hourly call-back rate.
Teresa Taplin, utility administrator and safety co-ordinator for the RM of Rockwood, outlined how much the proposed increase would cost an average homeowner.
“The Balmoral rate increase proposed will see an average increase per quarterly billing of $102.25 (58%) per household for Year 1. The timing of the approval for these rates from the Public Utilities Board will only see a part of Year 1 increase,” she said.
“The second- and third-year quarterly billing will see an increases of $55 (20%) and $108.50 (33%) per household, respectively.”
The last rate increase for Balmoral utility took place a decade ago. However, since 2014, the RM has incurred substantial increases in operating costs.
“With no increase in rates in the past 10 years, simply put, the revenue generated from the current rates is not sufficient to offset prior or future costs,” Taplin said.
“To eliminate future operating deficits and deficit recovery rate riders from occurring, an increase in utility rates is needed.”
Anyone with questions about the proposed Balmoral rates is encouraged to contact Teresa Taplin at the RM of Rockwood office at 204-467-2272 or the Public Utilities Board at www.pubmanitoba.ca. Questions or comments should be provided by March 15.
A similar process is underway in Gunton, where the RM of Rockwood applied to the Public Utilities Board for rate increases.
The current quarterly service charge in Gunton is $15.95, plus $2.75 per cubic metre for water and $2.25 per cubic metre for wastewater.
The proposed bylaw would see those rates rise in Gunton to $21 for the quarterly service charge in Year 1, $22.50 in Year 2 and $23.50 in Year 3. As well, the water charge per cubic metre would increase to $2.90 in Year 1, $2.95 in Year 2 and $3 in Year 3.
Similarly, the wastewater charge per cubic metre in Gunton would increase to $2.35 in Year 1, $2.45 in Year 2 and $2.53 in Year 3.
The minimum quarterly charge would increase from the current $90.95 to $99.75 in Year 1, $103.50 in Year 2 and $106.45 in Year 3 or annually from the current $363.80 to $399 in Year 1, $414 in Year 2 and $425.80 in Year 3.
“The Gunton revised water and wastewater rates per household per quarter will see an increase for Year 1 of $18.85 (6%),” Taplin said. “Year 2 is $9.91 (3%) and Year 3 is $9.09 (3%).”
The RM mailed an affidavit to the Public Utilities Board on Dec. 13, and the deadline for questions or comments about the Gunton proposal was Jan. 8. They are still waiting to hear back from the Public Utilities Board for approval. Once council receives the approval, they will give third reading to the Gunton utility bylaw. After the third and final reading, the new rates will come into effect.
