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Water rates to soar in Thompson

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

Thompson residents in dwellings equipped with water meters can expect to pay nearly 40 per cent more for water and sewer services in 2012 after the Public Utilities Board approved the northern city's rate proposal for 2012-2014. For 2012, the quarterly service charge will be $50.73, water will cost 93 cents per cubic metre and the sewer rate will be 89 cents per cubic metre. The minimum quarterly charge for homes with 15-millimetre service will be $78.03 and the average annual bill, based on consumption of 250 cubic metres per year, will be $657.92. 'The Board recognizes that the City of Thompson's water and wastewater infrastructure is in need of significant rehabilitation,' the Board said in a news release. 'The City of Thompson created a new water and sewer utility in 2010 in an attempt to manage these infrastructure requirements. The Board commends the City for its initiative and recognizes the challenges the new water and sewer utility faces. The Board is optimistic that the new utility will resolve these challenges.' The interim rates for 2011 were a quarterly service charge of $50.82, a water rate of 62 cents per cubic metre, a sewer rate of 47 cents per cubic metre, a minimum quarterly charge of $67.17 and an average annual utility bill of $475.78. The sewer rate increased the most from 2011 to 2012, at 89.36 per cent, while the water rate went up 50 per cent and the minimum quarterly charge rose 11.7 per cent. The quarterly service charge actually decreased 0.18 per cent, but the average annual utility bill is expected to be 38.28 per cent higher this year than last. Next year, the rates will rise again to $52.26 (quarterly service charge), 95 cents (water), 91 cents (sewer) and $80.16 (minimum quarterly charge), with the average annual utility bill expected to be $674.04. In 2014, there will be a quarterly service charge of $53.01, a water rate of 97 cents per cubic metre, a sewer rate of 93 cents per cubic metre and a minimum quarterly charge of $81.51, which will add up to an average annual utility bill of $687.04. The approved rates are similar to those originally applied for, says Carol Taylor, a project specialist (finance) with the City of Thompson. Prior to the interim rates being approved, the city had asked for a quarterly customer service charge of $52.80, a water rate of 97 cents per cubic metre and a sewer rate of 77 cents per cubic metre for 2011. In 2012, they would have risen to $53.86, 99 cents and 79 cents respectively, and to $54.94, $1.01 and 80 cents in 2013. In Flin Flon, city council has twice budgeted, but never proceeded with, water meters for every home in the community. _ Ian Graham, Thompson Citizen

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