There should be no way to opt out of having an automated utility meter, even temporarily, if the City of Medicine Hat goes ahead with a city-wide system, two aldermen told a city committee on Thursday.
City staff presented the regular Energy Committee meeting with a plan to persuade reluctant ratepayers and impose fees associated with the costs of operating both “smart meters” and traditional gauges for two years while the city installs the system.
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Red Deer residents now have more control over their utility bills.
The city has taken the first steps to switch from a fixed usage fee to a consumption-based model, where customers will pay only for what they use.
The city is making the changes over five years to mitigate rate shock.
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Albertans are likely to face a spike in their electricity bills in the new year as a result of a backlog of costs that have built up during a nine-month price freeze ordered by Premier Alison Redford last February.
Neither the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) nor Alberta utilities contacted by the Calgary Herald could estimate the amount of costs backed up in the system, but consumer advocates say the figure could be in the millions.
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Benalto and Spruce View residents are among those who will see increases to water and sewer rates.
Red Deer county councillors discussed proposed increases to water and sewer rates during a meeting last Tuesday.
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Property taxes and water and sewer utility rates will be going up next year in Spruce Grove after council unanimously passed the 2013 – 2015 Corporate Plan this past Monday.
After making amendments to the budget earlier this month, council approved the corporate plan that will see a 3.29 per cent increase in municipal property taxes and a 7.39 per cent increase in water and sewer utility rates.
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Sylvan Lake councillors proposed a 2.4 per cent property tax rate increase for the 2013 budget, following more than 12 hours of discussion spread over Oct. 30 and 31, and Nov. 3.
Many owners will see a 1.3 per cent increase in their taxes because property values have declined since 2012, said Darren Moore, Sylvan Lake’s director of finance.
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Fed up with high power rates and seeing an opportunity, an enterprising local engineer has started an electricity retailing company that is fearlessly undercutting the big players in the industry.
Peace Power has been selling electricity to Grande Prairie residents for three months, and its 20 or so clients enjoy rates that are 15% cheaper than Direct Energy’s floating rate.
Read more: http://tinyurl.com/b37tnco