Utilities rise $50 in 2010
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Updated: November 18, 2009 3:40 PM
New Westminster homeowners should get ready to shell out another $50 for basic utilities in 2010.
The cost for water, sewer and solid waste is expected to jump by $51.40 next year.
That increase doesn’t include the city’s electrical utility rate, estimated to rise seven to 10 per cent.
Most of the rate increases are due to external costs and the city is just passing down the increases.
For example, the water rate will go from $324.57 for a single family dwelling to $349.24 largely due to the capital spending by the Greater Vancouver Water District, which supplies water to Metro Vancouver cities.
The GVWD is completing the multi-million dollar Capilano-Seymour Filtration Plant and bulk water rates to cities are expected to continue increasing until 2014 to pay for it.
A smaller portion of the 2010 increase to residents will go towards replacing the city’s aging water system and a reserve fund.
In addition, the Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage System is charging cities more for the upkeep of the regional treatment facilities, New West and others will be charged a higher solid waste tipping fee by Metro Vancouver and the city buys its electricity from BC Hydro, which plans a seven to 10 per cent increase.
