Water Rates

Water Utility User Fee Rate Restructure Phase Four started in 2025

The new rate structure was phased in over four years to align water consumption to water utility costs to promote water conservation, the final phase was completed in 2025. City Council approved changes to the Water Utility user fee rate structure at the June 28, 2021, Regular Council meeting. Read the Corporate Report.

The new structure is a consumption-based model which:

• Bills customers a smaller fixed fee based on meter size.
• Bills customers only for the water consumption used.

Advantages of the new rate structure:

• Customers no longer pay for water they do not use. 
• Bills are reduced for customers who use less water. For example, when away from home and no water is used, only the fixed fee applies.
• The new rate encourages water conservation. Previously customers could only affect their bill if they were using more water than what was included in the fixed fee.
• The new structure is similar to neighbouring cities with metered water and is easier to understand.

Impact on customers:

Depending on each customer’s water usage, bills either decreased, are similar or increased.  The new rate structure was phased in over 4 years.  Phase 4 water rates were approved by Council on December 9, 2024.  This was the final phase in the restructuring. The new rate was effective for the 1st quarter bill of 2025. 

• Phase 1 (2022) – the fixed fee was reduced by 20% and the consumption included in the fixed fee was also reduced by 20%. 
• Phase 2 (2023) – the fixed fee was reduced by a further 20% and the consumption included in the fixed fee was also reduced by a further 20%. 
• Phase 3 (2024) – the fixed fee was reduced by a further 20% and the consumption included in the fixed fee was also reduced by a further 20%. 
• Phase 4 (2025) – the new rate structure was fully implemented.