ATHABASCA — Town of Athabasca residents will see higher utility bills in 2025 after councillors unanimously approved increases to both water and sewer rates effective Dec. 1.
The rate increase comes in response to an anticipated $150,000 jump in the municipality’s water costs paid to the Aspen Regional Water Services Commission (ARWSC) next year.
Councillors voted on both second and third readings of a bylaw to amend the utility rate bylaw during their Dec. 3 meeting with no discussion around the table.
Based on an estimated usage of 410,500 cubic metres for the upcoming year, councillors raised the water rates by five per cent. The new minimum water charge of 5m3 or less is $28.22, up from the previous $26.88 per billing cycle.
Residents using less than 18m3 will be charged at a rate of $5.64 per cubic metre, and households using over 45 cubic meters every two months will see their rate increase to $6.39/m3.
The new rates will mean residents who use the base amount, or less than five cubic metres, will pay on average an extra $8.04 per year, or $0.67 per month. Homes that use 18m3 or less will see their bills rise by approximately $29.10 annually, or $2.43 monthly. Town utility bills are sent out every two months.
In 2025, the town will have to pay ARWSC’s full rate, charged to all municipal users of the facility, at $4.13 per cubic metres. In 2024, the town was charged a reduced rate of approximately $3.77/m3 as a reprieve to commission changes made four years ago.
Councillors also increased water rates by five per cent last December in response to the ARWSC’s switch from a multi-tiered rate in 2021, which saw municipalities like Boyle and Wandering River charged higher rates for water.
For the Town of Athabasca, though, that switch resulted in a 30 per cent increase to its water costs under the multi-tiered system.
“We’re trying to do it gradually,” said Balay after the last rate increase. “We didn’t want to hit everyone with a 20 per cent increase, so we’re trying to soften the blow.”
Sewer rates will also increase on the next round of utility bills, to be calculated at 40 per cent of water consumption. In January 2023, sewer rates were set at 36 per cent of water use and were not raised for the 2024 year.
Residents can also expect to pay more in charges on their utility bills, with an extra $5 per cycle charged as a utility distribution fee, which will sit at $30 as opposed to the previous $25 bimonthly.
