Penhold's mayor said increasing utility rates are to help the town keep breaking even when it comes to service costs.
"We want to try and run them at a break-even (rate)," Mayor Dennis Cooper said.
Water and sewer rates are set to increase by $0.10 per cubic metre after a base level of eight cubic metres of water has been exceeded and the garbage and recycling collection rate is going up $3 a month. The estimated impact on household bills is approximately $7 a month.
"We haven't raised the rates in a number of years," Cooper said.
The increasing cost of electricity is partly why the cost to provide the water and sewer services is going up, Cooper said, and council does not want to provide the services at a loss.
He said the town "slipped behind" by about $60,000 last year because of the heavy rainfall that needed to be treated.
Garbage rates are going up $3 a month and the tipping fees are increasing, Cooper said. He said it was for the same reasons as increasing the water and sewer rates ñ trying to break even.
"Just to keep it so it's not costing us money," he said.
Garbage rates include recycling collection. There is no limit on the number of garbage bags residents can put out to be collected. Cooper said the annual spring cleanup session will go ahead as usual.
Water and sewer rates depend on consumption, Cooper said, and Penhold still has some rebate programs for things like low-flush toilets.
"We're trying to encourage water conservation," Cooper said.
According to the town's website, utility rates as of May 15, 2011 were $17 a month for garbage collection and $12 for up to eight cubic metres of water use and a fee of $1.10 per cubic metre. Sewer rates, which are based on water consumption, were $16 for up to eight cubic metres of water used and $2.30 for each cubic metre used after that.
The $0.10 per cubic metre increase will apply to the post eight cubic metres charge rate.
The increase to sewer and water rates and $3 a month to garbage collection will take effect on March utility bills.
