From the City of Red Deer:

At this afternoon’s (Feb. 4th, 2019) regular Council Meeting, Red Deer City Council passed amendments to the Utility Bylaw and the Electric Utility Bylaw, both of which saw slight rate increases set to take effect March 1.

In 2019, the average household will see an increase of approximately $2.20 per month, or about 2.14%, on their utility bill and approximately $0.90 per month on their electrical bill. These fee changes will take effect March 1, 2019, and residents will see the rates reflected on their April utility bills.

Utility rates for water and wastewater are comprised a fixed charge and a variable use charge, which offer residents the ability to control their bills by limiting water use. Waste collection fees are dependent on the type of household and service levels provided.

Utility rates cover the cost of operation and service delivery for City and regional customers, including:

  • Treatment and distribution of safe, reliable water for households, businesses, and fire protection,
  • Collection and treatment of wastewater from households and businesses to protect the health of our citizens, the river habitat, and downstream users, and
  • Collection and disposal of waste in an environmentally responsible manner, with emphasis on recycling and reuse.

Fees for regional water and wastewater customers and disposal fees at the Waste Management Facility fees will also change effective March 1.

A detailed breakdown of updated utility rates and waste management fees is available online at reddeer.ca/utilityrates

Electric utility rates are comprised of distribution and local access charges, and are based on the amount of electricity used. Residents see these charges on electrical bills from their service provider.

Electric utility rates cover operation and infrastructure costs, including:

  • Building, operating, maintaining, upgrading and replacing power lines and facilities,
  • 24-hour emergency response and repair,
  • Installing and reading electricity meters, and
  • Providing consumption and tariff billing information to your retailer.

More information about electric utility rates is available online at reddeer.ca/electricutility.