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Penticton  

Utility rates going up

The District of Summerland is raising electrical, sewer and water rates.

Council agreed Monday to a five-per-cent increase on water and sewer and a two-per-cent bump on electrical rates.

Councillors heard the increases will keep service levels at status quo and direct additional funds to each utility’s reserve.

Across the three utilities the District of Summerland has an infrastructure deficit — the total value of assets beyond their lifespan — of about $115.9M.

Reserve levels were just $6.6M at the start of the year.

“There is quite a substantial gap in what our asset management figures are telling us what we should be spending,” said director of finance David Svetlichny.

He said council will be getting a report in January on the entire municipality’s infrastructure deficit and plans moving forward.

The increases will translate into a $35 bump for water, $19 for sewer and $32 increase on the average residential electric bill in Summerland.

Agricultural water is exempt from the price increase.

Council will hold a special meeting later this month to formally adopt the changes.



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