GVSC Passes Water Rates Bylaw

This Morning at GVSC the new water Rates for 2011 were passed. There was little change from the last time they were proposed. Commercial rates were reinstated to .92 m3 on the consumption side and the first 10M3 for Tier A are now included in the base rate of $66.20 per quarter for the Residential customer. The 3 steps were increased to 78 cents in the 11-40m3 per quarter Tier B step and to 92 cents in the 41-80 m3 per quarter Tier C step. The highest Tier D step was increased to $1.24 per M3.

A Calculator is online at : Water Calculator for Proposed 2011 Rates as passed at GVSC Feb 17

The average customer who consumer 350m3 annually will see an increase of $91.96 (19.14%) over 2010. The worst hit customer both on an absolute dollar basis and a percentage basis will be a low end user who averages 20m3 per quarter. His increase will be $95.32 (47.50%).  His absolute $ increase is not surpassed until you get to the consumer who consumes 400m3 per annum. (5x as much).

The vote at the GVSC was a near unanimous one with only Director Gyula KISS not agreeing to the change.  Mr Kiss succeeded in getting the first 10m3 free in the base after finding no support for getting the first 20m3 fee in base as was the case in 2010. 


The $652,500 that could have been drawn from DCC's and reduced the required amount that would have been attributable to rates was not used despite Mr. Kiss's efforts. This means in effect that the revenue that will be received from the newly approved rates will be in excess of the actual requirements in 2011 and this $652,500 will flow into reserves to be used in 2012.