by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Dec 13, 2015 at 1:00 AM
Changes are being sought to how Greater Vernon residents are billed for water. Director Gyula Kiss presented an alternate rate structure to the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee Thursday. “This is not just contrary to staff recommendations,” he said of his proposal. Kiss is proposing to reduce the base fee to $55.59 per quarter and charge everything above the first 10 cubic metres per quarter at the rate of 2.59 cubic metres. Residential, commercial and institutional customers would be charged the same base fee per connection and the same consumption rate. “Everyone using water should pay the same base rate,” said Kiss. “When you look at the current situation, every tier has a different rate.” Kiss added that presently, residential customers using the least water are paying higher rates and subsidizing other users. Concerns about Kiss’ plans are coming from some of his colleagues, and particularly because of the potential impact on high water users. “Business would be picking up the extra costs — restaurants, the brewery,” said director Akbal Mund. No decisions were made by the committee. “It’s all part of a broader rate setting exercise. Staff will bring back a report,” said David Sewell, Regional District of North Okanagan chief administrative officer.
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Don Quixote Note: Councillor Kiss' rate structure is basically to lower the base fee to $55.59 per quarter ($25.86 base + 29.73 for borrowing outstanding) and charge everything above the first 10m3 per quarter at the rate of 2.59m3. Everyone in the non agriculture class would be charged the same base fee per connection and the same consumption rate. (Residential, Commercial, & Institutional)
How would this affect the different classes can be ascertained by using the online calculators . Just click in your average quarterly consumption (in the yellow box) to see the effect on your water bill when compared to the 2015 rates. Note there are separate calculators for residential and Commercial/institutional.
Remember that this is an alternate rate structure proposal that will be discussed at the rates workshop that will be held in January or February of 2016.
Commercial/Institutional Calculator:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1FgwH8iYm8oRsvp2KsIs70yG4ipyhy1RYHu-a08mgzT8/edit#gid=0
Residential Calculator
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HMfaBLo5llptiYVNIxMhGKhVVHpPcPXKcpav5Ecvn7k/edit#gid=0
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