PUC sets new water rates

PUC residential water customers will pay five per cent more under new water rates approved Friday by the Public Utilities Commission of the City of Sault Ste. Marie.

Under the new rates, a typical PUC customer using 14 cubic metres of water will see a $2.36 increase in their total monthly water bill.

The new water rates go into effect Jan.1.

In 2022, local water rates went up six per cent.

This year, they rose 5.5 per cent.

A bylaw passed this afternoon by the PUC board attributes the latest hike to riding costs of chemicals used for water treatment; materials, labour, and other costs needed to br in compliance with government-legislated safety and water quality standards; funds needed to maintain and expand the water system; and costs for  infrastructure replacement because of municipal roadworks and aging infrastructure.

PUC customer accounts are billed monthly and are due when rendered.

Class A water rates paid by most customers consist of a monthly basic service charge plus metered water rates.

The basic service charge will now be as follows:

• all services less than 1½ inch (37 mm) - $37.42
• 1½ inch (37 mm) - $106.46
• 2 inches (50 mm) - $106.46
• 3 inches (75 mm) - $143.21
• 4 inches (100 mm) - $177.22
• 6 inches (150 mm) - $204.29
• 8 inches (200 mm) - $263.04
• 10 inches (250 mm) - $346.45
• 12 inches (300 mm) - $406.49
• 18 inches (450 mm) - $620.01

As for metered water rates, 85.8 cents per cubic metre will be charged for the first 15 cubic metres for each one month period, 2.55 dollars per cubic metre for the next 250 cubic metres and 2.01 dollars per cubic metre for the remainder of water consumption.