Following a year of utility ratepayers benefitting from temporary rate discounts previously approved by Wetaskiwin City Council, the cost of city utilities has returned to the rate structure originally approved in 2020.
As part of the budget process in early 2021, city council approved a motion directing administration to reduce the transfers to reserves in utilities by $500,000 for the remainder of 2021.
Council made this decision as part of Wetaskiwin’s COVID-19 relief efforts. The city says this decision assisted local ratepayers through reduced utility expenses while they navigated the uncertainty of the pandemic.
However, now that it is 2022, the city has changed the utility charges to once again reflect the 2020 rates.
There was no raise in utility rates approved, rather ratepayers will no longer be receiving the temporary discount provided by the city that they received throughout 2021 anymore.
“While some municipalities are implementing utility rate increases for 2022, the City of Wetaskiwin continues to provide residents with stable rates consistent with those previously implemented in 2020,” said City of Wetaskiwin manager of finance, David Reynolds.
At their regular Dec. 13, 2021 city council meeting, council approved the 2022 Water and Wastewater fees. These fees maintained the same rate structure as the one approved in 2020, “putting Wetaskiwin’s utility rates directly in line with other surrounding communities,” the city stated.
shaela.dansereau@pipestoneflyer.ca
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