In the spring of 2022, the City of Winkler submitted a request to the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to increase its water and sewer rates. The request to the PUB from the City followed an extensive review of its rates after a review had not been done in a decade.
The city's request was approved, and City Manager Jody Penner said the increased rates were approved by Council at its meeting last week Tuesday.
"We did a very comprehensive utility rate review, especially in light of our new wastewater treatment facility. And of course, we're also doing a water treatment plant expansion. And so we had some help from Associated Engineering to do that review. And then based on that extensive review, we submitted our information to the Public Utilities Board for approval, and they've now given us approval for these rates."
The new rates are effective as of July 1st, 2023.
"The average residence will probably see an increase of about 7 percent," Penner added.
Penner said some businesses and other larger users may see a bit of a lower bill. "And part of that is because of the administration fee," he noted. "It's just a flat fee, so people who use less, it makes up a greater percentage of their quarterly bill."
The new rates have been approved for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Penner added the province has also enabled a more simplified version of the review process, allowing the city to conduct them more often. With Winkler's last review done in 2012, Penner said some of the rates were falling behind.