City of Brandon Presents Two Plans To Recover Utility Deficits

CITY OF BRANDON WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE APPLICATION 

Brandon, MB – The City of Brandon (City) has submitted two applications to the Public Utilities Board (Board). 

The first application is for approval of Utility operating deficits for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. The sum of the deficits is $15,869,919 and the Utility is seeking the Board’s approval to recover these deficits by rate rider over a period of seven years. 

The proposed deficit rate riders are as follows: 

The second application is for revised water and wastewater rates for the Brandon Water and Wastewater Utility (Utility) as set out in By-Law No. 7342, read the first time on July 18, 2022. Rates were last approved in 2016 in Board Order No. 60/16, with current rates coming into effect in July 1, 2018. 

The current and proposed utility rates are as follows: 

*Based on a quarterly charge discounted by 20% due to monthly payments being automatic 

**Based on 45 cubic meters of wastewater fee and deficit rate rider plus Quarterly Service Charge 

***Based on 15 cubic meters of wastewater fee and deficit rate rider plus Monthly Service Charge 

****Current Bulk Water Fee on a per 25 gallons basis; Year 1 per 445 Litres, Year 2 per 400 Litres, Year 3 per 355 Litres and Year 4 per 310 Litres 

…Approved in Board Order No. 108/21 effective October 1, 2021 for a period of 20 years 

……Approved in Board Order No. 83/22 effective October 1, 2022 for a period of 20 years 

Current and proposed meter, hydrant and disconnect/reconnect fees are as follows: 

*Current meter testing fee is $150 for any size up to 2”. Meters in excess of 2” are charged actual costs of testing plus 20%. 

**Working hours shall be between 8am-4pm Monday to Friday, not including statutory holiday 

If you have concerns/comments regarding the City’s application for revised water and wastewater rates, please go to www.pubmanitoba.ca and provide your comment. Please note, all comments will be forwarded to the City. 

Questions or comments should be sent on or before April 24, 2023. 

The Board is the provincial regulatory agency that reviews and approves rates for water and wastewater utilities in Manitoba, with the exception of the City of Winnipeg. The Board’s review process involves: 

·         the Utility filing a rate application to the Board, 

·         a public notification of proposed rate changes, 

·         the Board’s review of the application through a public hearing or paper review process, and 

·         the issuance of an Order which outlines the Board’s decision on the rate application and the rates to be charged. 

The Manitoba Ombudsman has privacy guidelines for administrative tribunals. The Board is mindful of its obligations under those guidelines. Its decisions in respect of the application being considered will be sensitive to the guidelines. Personal information will not be disclosed unless it is appropriate and necessary to do so. However, the Board advises participants that these proceedings are public and that as a result, personal information protections are reduced. 

The Board will then decide whether any further notice is required and whether to proceed with a public hearing or paper review process. All concerns received by the Board will be considered in the Board’s decision on rates to be charged. 

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IN CONSIDERING THIS APPLICATION, THE PUBLIC UTILITIES BOARD MAY OR MAY NOT FIND IT NECESSARY TO DETERMINE RATES DIFFERENT FROM THOSE APPLIED FOR BY THE APPLICANT. 

Note: All proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the Board’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, which the Board may vary in order to constrain regulatory costs. The Rules are available at http://www.pubmanitoba.ca