There is concern for orchardists and farmers in the Greater Vernon area as the March snowpack level comes in as the lowest ever recorded. Water manager Al Cotsworth says residents and agriculture producers are facing tough water restrictions this summer unless there is a drastic change in the water situation. Cotsworth says there are worrying implications for our farmers. Cotsworth says the snowpack was about five percent higher in 2003 than the current March level of 56 percent of average - the lowest in 40 years of record keeping. He says Vernon went on stage 3 watering restrictions for about ten days during the last severe drought. Meanwhile, former Vernon city councillor Barry Beardsell claims that upcoming increase in water rates is much higher than the nine percent announced last week. Beardsell says he used a calculator on Coldstream councillor Gyula Kiss' blog to check out the cost for his own home -- with a shocking result, a 15.3 percent increase. Beardsell says the public is being misled.
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Don Quixote Note:
To calculate your own costs visit mywaterrates and replace the red values with your own quarterly consumption values (m3 on your water bill). (Courtesy of the Coldstreamer)
My personal water rate increase is at 15.6%.
The 9% across the board increase neglects to mention that the summer rate (July, August & September) has been increase from the new rate of .92 per cubic meter to 1.10 per cubic meter and this will also increase your percentage increase (Unless you used less than 20 cu. meters in the period- which then would have no effect on your rates.)
The real variance is that the base rate for all consumers has been increased from $29.15 per quarter to $50.20 per quarter.(This is how I figure it must be calculated. 29.15 (2009 access fee) +18.40 (for 20 liters at .92 put in base) +2.62 (9%of 29.15 ) =50.17 (close enough))
This base rate change ensures that all consumers will pay a minimum of a 10.65% increase even if they use NO water or less than 20 cu. meters. per quarter. (You can prove this out by using the calculator and plugging in 20 cu. meters per quarter and see the final increase.)
The calculator has its limitations and imperfections. If you plug in less than 20 say 15 it indicates that you will get a credit for your consumption below 20 and this is NOT correct. The calculators increase of 10.06% is incorrect. The real increase will be 200.80/164.88 =21.8%. (The less water you use below 20 the bigger your %age increase this year.
Correct Calculations are:
A person consuming exactly 20 cu. meters per quarter will have a $19.32 increase.(From $181.48 in 2009 to $200.80 in 2010)
A person consuming exactly 15 cu. meters per quarter will have a $35.92 increase. (From $164.88 in 2009 to $200.80 in 2010) (21.8%)
A person consuming exactly 10 cu. meters per quarter will have a $52.52 increase. (From $148.28 in 2009 to $200.80 in 2010) (35.4%)
The object of ensuring that all customers including our shadow community that are only resident for 6 months or less each year pay a greater share of the costs of the utility by increasing the base rate per quarter is met BUT it has the unexpected consequence of penalizing the homeowner who conserves water year round and uses less than the average 20 cu meters per year.
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http://coldstreamernews.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-water-rates-supplementary.html
In the posting above by the Coldstreamer he calculated the exact same figures for the 10, 15 and 20 cu. meter users. Kudos to him for both the claculator and his bringing these water rate increases to the attention of the public.
1 comment:
Some detailed information is needed for the customers.If the board is not prepared to fully account fot these increases,then they shoul resign.
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