How to lower your residential sewer bill in Vernon

 

• In Vernon your sewer bill for the next 4 quarters (April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018) is calculated by your water usage in the First  Quarter of 2016.
•  Your first quarter bill will be for 90 days but: Everybody has their meter read on different days. My meter is read on Dec. 18th and therefore my calculation period when I need to conserve water will be from Dec. 18, 2016  to Mar. 18th, 2017. (Look at top of your bill for meter reading date)
• Unless changed prior to April 1, 2017 your sewer charge will continue to be a base charge of $50.20 per quarter PLUS a per m3 charge for your water usage in first quarter that exceeds 20m3. at a rate of $2.45 per m3. (If you use 30m3 you will be charged for 10m3 at $2.45= $24.50)
• Flush toilet only when necessary.
• Use Outhouse or Friends House Throne-room or Library
• Shower with  a friend.
• Become a snow-bird in first quarter and use no water. (Save consumption charge)

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For every M3 of water you use in the first quarter above 20m3 you will pay an annual sewer consumption charge of 2.45 x 4 = $9.80.

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2016 Rates in Coldstream

P.S. - This doesn't work as well in Coldstream as they have a different sewer rates formula. Although they base their annual sewer rate on their first quarter water consumption, they have a minimum charge ($94.10 )- $56.45 base fee + $37.65 for 15m3 consumption equivalent  per quarter that makes everyone pay for at least 15 m3.  Every m3 you do not use above the first 15m3 in first quarter will save you $2.51 per m3 quarterly or $10.04 Annually.

Hydro prices: How Toronto compares to other cities

http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/hydro-prices-how-toronto-compares-to-other-cities-1.2714315

When broken down by price per kilowatt hour, Montreal is again the cheapest city at 7.63 cents. In Toronto and Ottawa, the price is doubled at approximately 15 cents.
Here's how the other North American cities break down, from east to west:
St. John's : 12.41 cents
Charlottetown: 17.09 cents
Halifax: 16.68 cents
New York: 30.10 cents
Detroit: 17.69 cents
Chicago: 18 cents
Winnipeg: 8.55 cents
Regina: 15.59 cents
Calgary: 12.94 cents
Edmonton: 12.91 cents
Vancouver: 9.27 cents
San Francisco: 25 cents
Vernon Step 1 rate 7.97 cents
Vernon Step 2 rate 11.95 cents

FortisBC receives approval for adjustments to natural gas and propane rates

Natural Gas Bill to decrease !!!!

December 17, 2015 Fortis B.C.
Changes bring all customers closer to paying the same for natural gas no matter where they live
SURREY, B.C. – ​FortisBC has received approval from the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to modify natural gas and propane rates. Beginning January 1, 2016 customers will see changes to their bill.

This date also marks the second year of a three-year phased-in approach to a common natural gas rate across the province, which will result in customers paying the same for natural gas no matter where they live.

“Natural gas prices in North America have continued to fall due to expectations for a mild winter, strong natural gas production and record natural gas storage levels heading into winter”, said Cynthia Des Brisay, vice president of energy supply and resource development. “These factors have resulted in a decrease in the cost of gas effective January 1.”


Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Interior, North and the Kootenays
Customers will see a decrease of $0.77 per gigajoule (GJ) to the cost of gas rate. Residential customers will see an increase of $0.46 per GJ to their delivery rate and a decrease to the storage and transport rate of $0.41 per GJ. For the average residential customer using 90 GJ of natural gas per year, this works out to an overall decrease of approximately $65 per year, or a decrease of 8 per cent. Customer Choice program participants can also expect to see the above changes to the delivery and storage and transport rates on their bills.

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Current Aug 1, 2015 rates:

Don Quixote Note:
I heat my house with a gas fired water boiler system. Using these new rates and applying them to my last bill for November,  I would have a $24 savings before a further reduction for (GST, Carbon Tax , Clean E Energy Levy & the 3.09% Franchise fee.

This will reduce the franchise fee that is paid to our local municipality.  It will not effect the Franchise Fee Revenue Estimated in our Current 2016 Budget as this is collected from fortis in November 2016 for the period of Jan1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.

The Franchise fee (P.134) which was $490,744  in 2015 was originally budgeted for the same amount in 2016  but was reduced down  to $ 427, 000 after verification with Fortis during budget process.  (a 13% reduction of $63,744). The 2014 Actual was $440,161.

Rate Changes in 2015
Natural gas commodity rates have changed from $3.781 to $2.486 per gigajoule effective
April 1. 2015 Residential customers’ annual charges will decrease by approximately 13 per cent
depending on consumption. The BC Utilities Commission approved this rate adjustment.
For more details, visit fortisbc.com/rates.

Natural gas delivery rates have changed effective August 1, 2015. Residential customers’ annual charges will increase by less than 1 per cent, depending on consumption. The BC Utilities Commission approved this rate change. For more details, visit fortisbc.com/rates.

City council upholds $1 postage fee for utility bills

by Dan Walton - Penticton Western News posted May 5, 2015 at 2:00 PM— updated May 5, 2015 at 3:15 PM
Penticton will be following through with plans to tack a loonie onto bills that get paid the traditional way.Since May 1, home and business owners that haven’t switched to electronic billing have been subject one-dollar monthly fee. The measure has been implemented to cut costs and reduce waste. However, some ratepayers find the practice to be discriminatory. “It’s not about being green or saving trees,” said resident Jean Mitchell, adding that lower income residents, especially seniors, are less likely to have internet access. “We are not about to pay you a buck for an invoice which is a request for payment to you,” she said, after presenting her petition of 243 names in opposition to the new fee. “Most of us just want a piece of paper with all the information we need.” To help smooth the transition towards electronic billing, the city encouraged the free internet use available at the Penticton Public Library and arranged courses for seniors to learn the ropes on computers. Mitchell said library computers sometimes require a wait and force users to sit beside strangers. “Before you suggest we toddle off to the library, go there yourself unannounced,” she challenged council. “You may be shocked with the reality.” Coun. Tarik Sayeed said he does go to the library regularly, and inquired into its reality. Mitchell said that when a computer is finally available, “You can’t choose who (sits beside you) are or what they do. It’s very uncomfortable in a lot of situations.” Coun. Judy Sentes asked if that concern is because of privacy issues. “No, the clothing smells like cigarette smoke so bad that you can’t stand it; you can’t breathe,” Mitchell said. “I’m not going there.” Mitchell took offence to the city’s depiction of the new process, citing an online press release regarding the change. “There’s a picture of a happy, elderly politically correct couple, with the woman doing the work on the computer, going online, overjoyed by the fact that they just received an e-bill in their private email inbox, telling them what’s owing, and wow – they just saved a buck,” Mitchell said, prompting a laugh from the audience. “In reality, they haven’t saved a cent. You can’t save something you didn’t have in the first place.” She calls the fee a predatory business practice. “Their demand is no invoice in the mail or else pay up with the postage money.” Mitchell compared city council to the New Testament of the Bible and said Penticton has robbed Peter to pay Paul. During a subsequent discussion, Coun. Sayeed suggested removing the postal fee and instead offering a $1 incentive to those who register for electronic billing, offering a reward instead of penalty. Interim CAO Chuck Loewen said that would defeat the purpose of counteracting the rising cost of postage. “The whole purpose of this was to reduce expense caused by postage,” he said. If the formula was changed to reward instead of penalize, “We would still have that expense (of postage) that we couldn’t offset by charging that dollar.” Coun. Campbell Watt agreed. “If we were to not charge a dollar for postage, we would have to find $180,000 somewhere else. People getting bills mailed to them will be paying through their property tax instead.” Coun. Watt said he sympathizes for those struggling with money, but the cost of mailing has to be taxed one way or another. Coun. Helena Konanz suggested giving residents more time to digest. “I’d like to delay this $1-per-bill for a year, and give everyone a year to catch up to be able to learn how to use the computer and get used to the idea.” But nobody seconded her motion. “People have a lot of difficulties in shifting their culture to do what they do,” Mayor Andrew Jakubeit. He believes that the opposition stems from the principal of paying for the delivery of a bill, rather than the actual cost. “I think people would complain if the fee was 50 cents, one dollar or $5,” Jakubeit said. Coun. Max Picton felt the discussion was losing focus on what’s important. “We keep talking about the dollars and cents of this but really we need to look at the environmental impact,” he said. “We’re printing 17,000 bills repeatedly, over and over again.” Coun. Picton said the decision to charge for postage will make the world a better place for everybody. Council agreed to move forward without altering their initial decision of charging the $1 postal fee.

There will be a $1 charge for those who require utility bills to be mailed

Posted: Thursday, April 2, 2015 6:30 pm Penticton Herald:
Due to increases in the cost of postage, the City of Penticton will be implementing a postage fee for utility customers who require bills mailed to them. Effective May 1, electrical customers who receive a hard-copy bill by mail will be required to pay a $1 postage fee. Customers who sign up for electronic bills will be exempt from the fee. The postage fee was discussed by Council as part of the 2015 budget process. The City of Penticton has more than 17,400 electric utility customer accounts, meaning postage for monthly bills cost the City $183,000 last year. With increasing Canada Post rates, this amount would increase significantly in coming years. E-bills are an easy, cost-effective solution – arriving each month directly to the customer’s email inbox. If customers want to retain a hard copy of the bill, the PDF file format makes it easy to print it out at home. Customers may register at mycity.penticton.ca and click on "Register now" and follow the prompts. Questions may be directed to 250-490-2489 or e-mailed to: utilities@penticton.ca City staff advises those without a computer to utilize the ones at the Penticton Public Library. Free instruction on computer skills will be available on Sunday, May 3 (1 - 5 p.m.) and Wednesday, May 13 (5:30 - 7 p.m.) at the library.

Utility Bills Vernon

The 2nd Quarter Utility Bills (Apr. 1 to June 30) will soon be arriving by mail. Changes (increases) you will find on these bills are:

• GVW Res.  & Commercial Quarterly Water Base Rates  $80.50 (increase of $2.38 from $78.12)
• GVW Tier A Consumption rate 0-10 m3 - $5.00 (Increase of $5.00- formally $free.- 50 cent/m3)
• GVW Tier B Consumption rate 11-20 m3 - $9.00 (Increase of $9.00- formally $free. 90 cent/m3)
•  Tier C- 21-40m3 from 98 cents to $1 (2.04% increase -2 cents/m3)
• Tier D- 41-80m3 from $1.20 to $1.25 (4.16% increase -5 cents/m3)
• Tier E- over 80m3 from $1.74 cents to $1.80 (3.44% increase -6 cents/m3
• Commercial Water Rates have increased from $1.09/m3 to $1.15/m3. (There are no incline block rates in this category -Commercial/Industrial)m3
• Garbage Rates Residential $27.30 from $26.59 - 71 cents/ quarter increase.
• Residential Recycling Rates $8.78 from $8.61 - 17 cents/quarter increase.
• INCREASE IN SEWER RATE BASE FEES WILL BEGIN July 1 AND WILL SHOW UP IN YOUR 3rd QUARTER BILL..  New rate will be $50.20 per quarter.  Old rate $48.98. Increase of $1.22  Sewer User Rates Bylaw #5400 - City of Vernon

Suite approval to be simplified

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: January 18, 2013 1:00 AM
Efforts are underway to encourage secondary suites in Vernon and minimize issues around them. City council has directed staff to take a number of steps that would clarify requirements for secondary suites in residential homes and simplify the approval process. “It’s one of the approaches recognized in our affordable housing strategy,” said Coun. Juliette Cunningham of suites. “There are hundreds throughout the city and just 24 are legal.” Staff has been asked to investigate a streamlined process for secondary suites including reduced costs and requirements. Council also wants bylaws amended to eliminate billing for secondary suite owners at the base rate for water and sanitary sewer and maintain a base rate for garbage for all authorized secondary suites. Staff will also consider ways to encourage all new detached single-family home construction to include the provision for the future installation of a suite. One area that is also being pursued is distinguishing in-law suites from income-generating suites. “Adult children have taken on their parents and they get slammed with costs,” said Cunningham, adding that keeping families together should be considered differently than someone collecting rent. There could also be amendments to how illegal suites are handled. The affordable housing advisory committee has recommended requiring at least two written complaints from two different residents or business operators within a 50-metre radius and within a six-month period to initiate the bylaw enforcement process. “We want to reduce the angst for people when they are reported on by neighbours,” said Cunningham.

B.C. natural gas company wants fraud probe expunged - Active Energy accused of forging contracts

 CBC News Posted: Sep 8, 2012 2:11 PM PT 
A natural gas wholesaler is trying to block the findings of a B.C. Utilities Commission fraud investigation. Earlier this year, police uncovered more than two dozen fake Active Energy natural gas contracts at small businesses, from flower shops to funeral homes, throughout the province. Ontario-based Active Energy buys bulk gas then resells it to customers in four provinces: B.C., Quebec, Saskatchewan and Ontario. The B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) paid for an investigation, but Active Energy has applied to have it expunged, meaning it will never be released to the public. Kathy Simon says a representative forged her signature after she declined to sign a natural gas contract at her downtown Cranbrook store. "My understanding is these young guys were working on commission and it was just as easy to forge some signatures and get the money and run," she told CBC News. "I believe this involves a lot of businesses across B.C." Simon was alerted to the issue when her gas bill spiked from $50 to $400. She says she is frustrated, but not surprised the company is seeking to have the investigation expunged. "Maybe we need something as big as Bernie Madoff to actually get some action here," she said. BCUC commissioners will decide if the investigation is released to the public. Active Energy officials could not be reached for a comment. Police in the East Kootenay are also conducting their own investigation into Active Energy.
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• Also see: http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2012/09/investigation-into-utilities-fraud.html  
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/04/30/bc-active-gas-contracts.html

Lumby raises water, sewer and garbage rates

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 23, 2012 1:00 AM
It’s going to cost more for water in Lumby.  Council has given three readings to the water rates bylaw for 2012. “We’re trying to get the utility to the point where we can cover depreciation and operation costs,” said Mayor Kevin Acton. The base rate is going from $12 to $12.35 per month, while the consumption rate is increasing from 64 to 66 cents per cubic metre. Coun. Jo Anne Fisher voted against the rates, saying residential customers are subsidizing industrial and commercial users. “They are the largest users of water and there is no incentive for them to reduce their use of water,”  she said of non-residential customers. Fisher says there is a need for the village to identify commercial and industrial users and establish a plan. Council has also given the green light to sewer rates. The base rate will go from $12 to $12.35 a month while the consumption rate is climbing from 40 cents to 41 cents per cubic metre. Residential garbage is going from $11 to  $11.36 per month and recycling is increasing from $1.75 to $1.79 per month.