Communicating utility changes

Times Contributor    

 

The Town of Strathmore Utility department held an open house on March 12, to answer resident’s questions on their utility bills.

The new monthly billing system will begin in April 2013.

“I think it makes more sense,” said Alan West, about receiving a bill once a month.

However, Bob Payne doesn’t like the idea. He thinks extra costs will result from hiring extra staff for the more frequent readings, changing the billing system and sending out bills. The town is encouraging everyone to go on E-billing.

The old monthly flat fee was $13.66 for two months; the new bill will show $6.83 because it will be billed monthly. The Water Conveyance Levy will be halved to $2.40 a month, the flat sewer maintenance, storm sewer levy will be $24.46, and the garbage levy will be $16.39. The Variable Water Consumption rate remains $1.60-1.65 per cubic metre. Variable sewer charges are $1.60 per cubic metre. 

Meter readings will be done once a month, with half the town covered by the 15th and the other by the 30th.

West would like to see the town go to automatic electronic reading systems, to save on manpower. 

Diane Fischer, Utility Supervisor, said that most of the meters in town have been replaced to accommodate meter gun readings, however, some are still done manually. Fischer encourages people to call about switching the meters over so they can be read by the guns, saving the reader time and increasing accuracy. 

Lloyd Penner would like to see the town eliminate the flat utility fees altogether, to encourage people to be more conscious of their utility use.

“I would like to be compensated for using less water,” said Penner. 

Lori Smith indicated that variable rates had been tried in the past and many people expressed unhappiness with it. Smith felt that there will be overall savings with the new system.

Penner wanted clarification on the variable rates charged by the town and Smith indicated it was set at more than the town was charged, to hopefully recoup some of the 53 million dollars that was borrowed to upgrade utility infrastructure and link up to Calgary water sources. Smith said that fees will also be charged to builders putting in new developments, to recoup some of the costs. 

There were questions about the town’s contracts with Calgary and utility suppliers such as Epcor. Smith indicated they were long term contracts and did not foresee the town changing those arrangements. Smith also discussed the possibility of grey water recycling by the town and said that the idea had been looked at for town facilities, but Environment Canada guidelines and liability risks ruled it out for public use by the municipality. Grey water is wastewater that comes from domestic activities like doing laundry, dishes, and bathing. It can then be recycled for use in constructed wetlands or landscape irrigation.

There are grey water recycle tanks for sale by private companies, for personal use. Canada Mortgage and Housing has a sustainable home/office that can be toured, or checked virtually at www.ecobuildings.net, and more information about the system is on the site as well. House systems start at about $2,000 and can save about 30 per cent of water use.

Smith said that the town encourages conservation and sells rain barrels at cost. There were many handouts on conservation and measurement tips, available to take home from the event. Cheryl Bear Chief said as a utility clerk, she received quite a few calls from residents about the new billing system. She said the purpose of the open house was to reach more residents and answer those questions in one place. For those who could not attend, she said they could call the office and someone would explain their personal bill and the billing process to them.