\
Notice of Public Hearing – Rate Hearing for Richmond Water Utility
___________________________________________________________________
The Municipality of the County of Richmond has made application to the Utility and
Review Board, on behalf of the Richmond Water Utility, for approval of amendments to
its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and amendments to
its Schedule of Rules and Regulations.
The rate study was initiated in May of 2016 in response to Municipal Council approval to
submit a funding application for a new Water Treatment Facility for the Louisdale /
Evanston / Whiteside water system. It has been 8 years since the last rate study on the
Richmond Water Utility; the NSUARB recommends that rate studies be conducted
every five years.
The funding application for the new proposed Water Treatment Facility for the Louisdale
/ Evanston / Whiteside water system has been approved. In order to construct the
proposed facility the Municipality must seek approval from the NSUARB which requires
that a new rate application be filed with the board.
The proposed rate increases are due to:
•
Anticipated increases in operating costs as a result of the construction of the new
proposed water treatment facility for the Louisdale / Evanston / Whiteside water
system. Additional costs would include such things power, heat, chemicals,
labour, maintenance, etc.
•
Adjustment to existing costs allocated to the Richmond Water Utility to more
accurately reflect true operating costs. It should be noted that some of the
additional costs being assigned to the Utility would be re-allocated from other
areas in the Municipal budget and would not all be new costs.
While the proposed rate increase is substantial (average residential quarterly billings
are expected to be approximately 66% higher than present day), the rates proposed for
the Richmond Water Utility would remain slightly below the Provincial average. The
proposed rate increase has been phased in over a number of years to help lessen the
impact on rate payers.
The table below provides the schedule of proposed increases based on the average
residential customer.
Average Water Rate for 5/8" Meter @ 35 Cubic Meters Per Quarter
Rate (per quarter)
Year over Year Increase
Increase VS Present Rate
Provincial Average
Present Rate 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019
$65.66
$79.62
$95.04
$108.89
21%
19%
15%
21%
45%
66%
$112.13
The attached water rate comparison sheet shows base rates, consumption rates and
average quarterly bills for residential customers based on an average consumption of
35 cubic meters. Base rates and consumption rates vary based on where costs are
allocated; focus should be on column 4 - average quarterly bill. The attached data on
provincial rates was provided as part of the rate study, it is believed to be accurate as of
the date of the rate application.
A copy of the rate application is available at the Municipal Office at 2357 Highway 206,
Arichat. The documents are also available online at
http://uarb.novascotia.ca/fmi/webd#UARB15 by entering the matter number M07711 in
the space indicated below.
Average
Consumption
Rate in Cubic
Meters
Comparison of Water Rates
METRICCONVERTER
7,700.00 Imperial Gallons
35
Cubic Meters
$
$
$
Rate/1000 Rate/cubicmeter QuarterlyBill Date Rates effective
gal
35.0
Updated 20 november, 2014
Water Utility
New Minas, Village of
Amherst, Town of
Pictou County
Pictou, Town of
Kentville, Town of
Inverness
Digby, Town of
Wolfville
Antigonish, Town of
Richmond County (Existing rate)
Queens, Region of
Baddeck, Co. of Victoria - Village Comm.
Stellarton, Town of
Oxford, Town of
Falmouth, West Hants
Port Williams, Village of
Yarmouth
PROPOSED
Cape Breton Regional
Canning, Village Commissioners of
Lawrencetown, The Village of
Truro, Town of
Fringe Area - Antigonish County
Westville
New Glasgow
Bridgewater Water Utility
Lunenburg, Town
PROPOSED
Middleton, Town of
Springhill, Town
Three Mile Plains, Wentworth, West Hants
Trenton
Annapolis County - CP, Granville, Margaretville
Windsor, Town of
East Hants Regional - Enfeild, Elmsdale, Lantz
Port Hawkesbury
Stewiacke, Town of
Annapolis Royal, Town of
Sherbrooke, District of St. Mary's
Bridgetown
Greenwood (Mun. of the Co. of Kings)
St. Peter's, Samsonville & Area
Mill Cove Water Utiltiy
Mulgrave
Hantsport
Debert, Colchester County
Tatamagouche, Colchester County Lower South River - Antigonish County
Canso - Hazel Hill Water
Shelburne
Victoria County (Ding, NH, N Haven, Ing, Little
Narrows)
Mahone Bay
Parrsboro, Town of
Low
High
Mean
Median
$
5/8"fixed
charge
25.40
28.66
22.50
32.73
32.67
27.87
40.73
33.92
43.66
34.82
39.23
46.79
44.96
64.29
36.29
60.78
49.25
51.52
52.05
62.76
63.44
2.91
2.89
3.73
3.15
3.29
3.95
2.30
3.28
2.05
4.04
4.36
3.50
4.62
2.20
6.31
3.27
5.85
5.58
5.52
4.40
3.96
10.75
10.71
0.64
0.64
0.82
0.69
0.72
0.87
0.51
0.72
0.45
0.89
0.96
0.77
1.02
0.48
1.39
0.72
1.29
1.23
1.22
0.97
0.99
0.00
1.47
1.34
1.21
1.00
0.86
1.21
2.20
1.10
1.34
1.42
2.10
1.51
2.18
0.90
1.63
1.99
2.15
1.30
1.98
1.37
1.98
2.03
2.30
0.00
2.37
2.36
47.83
50.92
51.26
57.01
58.03
58.32
58.46
59.21
59.46
65.97
72.83
73.74
80.58
81.25
84.94
85.98
94.35
94.57
94.61
96.71
98.09
99.80
100.16
100.92
104.42
106.32
107.08
108.92
110.12
111.87
116.00
118.01
118.72
120.56
125.15
129.48
129.55
136.58
140.25
140.77
147.21
152.57
154.14
161.71
162.13
164.90
168.56
175.92
April 1, 2009
April 1, 2015
November 1, 2001
April 1, 2007
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2008
April 1, 2015
January 1, 2004
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2004
April 1, 2012
April 1, 2008
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2016
July 1, 2013
September 1, 2016
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2012
July 1, 2016
July 1, 2016
July 1, 2016
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2012
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2010
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2013
April 1, 2016
April 1, 2015
April 1, 2016
July 1, 2016
48.71
54.02
62.07
71.47
76.98
66.67
33.03
73.26
69.05
68.29
45.10
67.75
48.98
97.95
72.39
66.93
65.01
95.29
78.06
104.70
84.84
90.78
81.49
6.67
6.06
5.49
4.52
3.90
5.48
10.00
5.01
6.09
6.45
9.55
6.85
9.88
4.09
7.41
9.03
9.76
5.90
8.97
6.21
8.99
9.20
10.46
85.69
93.32
108.23
99.99
9.94
12.91
2.19
2.84
184.88
199.52
April 1, 2011
April 1, 2016
April 1, 1999
27.87
108.23
62.84
63.44
2.05
12.91
6.27
5.85
0.00
2.84
1.32
1.23
57.01
199.52
112.13
107.08