Commercial sewer rates

pentona
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Re: Commercial sewer rates

Post by pentona »

TimmyE wrote:Unfortunately, it's a restaurant. I can't have dirty dishes or cookware. It's going to be hard to pass on that kind of increase and the increase in minimum wages to my customers. :cry: It might be time to get out


Its obvious that the city is trying to squeeze as much out of every one of us as they possibly can. Until they put a meter on the drains, perhaps we should tell them to go fishing, period.
twobits
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Re: Commercial sewer rates

Post by twobits »

XT225 wrote:

I believe the sewer treatment charge IS based on overall water consumption via the water meter; this is what seems so unfair. Perhaps twobits can chime in on this; he knows more about it, I think. There was something mentioned about RM2 lots getting a break (I assume those are bigger in size) vs RM1, smaller lots who will pay through the nose.


I am a strong supporter of user pay but this method of fee calculation is wrong. You are correct in your understanding XT. Sewer rates are going to move in tandem with what the water meter says you used with consideration given to large residential lots who may be irrigating. This is flawed logic. Basing sewer rates on number of fixtures (as is currently done) is also not perfect but is a much more logical approach in the absence of sewage metering. A ten fixture home is likely to discharge the same amount of waste water as a ten fixture townhouse or condo on average. Basing rates on the number of occupants would be far superior.

What also comes to mind is how this new fee structure will be applied to extraneous contracts for City sewer services like the Skaha Hills housing development that was just signed? Since they are on a private water system, will those homeowners (and winery) pay a flat rate and dump as much as they want down the poop pipe without regard to actual water consumption? The answer is obvious and clearly unfair to the residents and taxpayers of Penticton that paid for the treatment plant. What is sick about this is that residents were sold on the deal on the basis of "we have excess capacity" so why not hook them up for some revenue? So now we have sold out some of our excess capacity for decades at flat rates and barley a year later the people that paid for that excess capacity to service their own taxation based lands are told they will be subject to user pay. Smells like chit to me. Pun intended.
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Rosemary1
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Re: Commercial sewer rates

Post by Rosemary1 »

Good points twobits. What seems also unclear with changes

1. What does it mean for stratas? Most stratas include water in their strata fees with owners paying their own sewage services costs as part of their property taxes. Water costs for stratas include water usage for common property. How will sewage component be calculated and charged to stratas? Will stratas be required to allocate costs through some strata fee recalculation? If sewage uses are tacked on to strata owners strata fees, that cost will no longer be part of the property tax HOG calculation so strata residents lose that benefit.

2. Residents in mobile home parks paying pad fees could encounter similar issues as stratas.

3. Using the number of bathrooms is not a particularly good indicator of usage as it depends on number of occupants. (There are also many snowbirds in Penticton who go south for winter months and incur no sewage costs in their homes.

4. What other cities have moved to similar models and what have been lessons learned?

5. City contributed to sewage connection to the tune of something in area of $300K for skaha hills.Does not indeed look like such developments will be paying their fair share for usage and sewage infrastructure upgrades .
OhMyDarlin
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Re: Commercial sewer rates

Post by OhMyDarlin »

Sewer charges are always higher than water charges because the cost to treat effluent is significantly higher than the cost to treat raw water. In Kelowna, commercial users can install sewer credit meters on irrigation lines. The consumption on the credit meter is subtracted from the consumption on the main meter before the sewer charge is calculated.

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C3PO
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Re: Commercial sewer rates

Post by C3PO »

Confirmed the new Sewer Charge for Renters.
After checking with the Landlord and Tenant Branch, this is a new charge that was not in the Legal binding Agreement that was signed between tenant and Landlord when the Tenant agreed to pay for utilities. The rates change each month. Rental increases are once in 12 months. This new charge creates a rental increase each month averaging $20-$50.00.
In the "September Newsletter" The city put the Onus on the tenant to enter into discussion with their landlord to determine "How this charge will be paid." including reducing the rent. Keeping in mind that if the tenant refuses to pay this charge, then they can legally be terminated by landlord. The Tenant branch suggests that tenants fill out the Tenant dispute form and get it it quickly.
In Summary: The City of Penticton failed to mention to landlords or tenants that their Landlord and Tenant Agreement would be affected. The key words here in their newsletter:[b] tenant to enter into discussion with their landlord to determine "How this charge will be paid." including reducing the rent.

City of Penticton NewsletterSeptember 2016 Sewer Changes.jpg
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