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Public Utilities Board approves water rate hike for Brandon residents
by Staff - October 23, 2023
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The Province’s Public Utilities Board (PUB) has approved revised water and wastewater rates for the City of Brandon Water and Wastewater Utility effective October 1, 2023. Upcoming utility rates have also been approved for January 1, 2024, January 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026.
A synopsis of the approved rates are as follows:
| Current Rates | Oct. 1, 2023 | Jan. 1, 2024 | Jan. 1, 2025 | Jan. 1, 2026 | |
| Monthly Service Charge* | $4.66 | $4.80 | $5.11 | $5.42 | $5.74 |
| Quarterly Service Charge | $17.48 | $18.00 | $19.17 | $20.34 | $21.51 |
| Water (per CM) | $1.66 | $1.80 | $2.10 | $2.40 | $2.71 |
| Wastewater (per CM) | $1.63 | $1.79 | $2.14 | $2.49 | $2.84 |
| Debenture Surcharge | $0.172 | $0.172 | $0.172 | $0.172 | $0.172 |
| Deficit Rate Riders | |||||
| Water (per CM) | – | $0.19 | $0.19 | $0.19 | $0.19 |
| Wastewater (per CM) | – | $0.21 | $0.21 | $0.21 | $0.21 |
| Wastewater Only Customers | |||||
| Monthly Charge ** | – | $34.80 | $40.36 | $45.92 | $51.49 |
| Quarterly Charge *** | – | $108.00 | $124.92 | $141.84 | $158.76 |
*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
To continue to have an effective water and sewer system, the City of Brandon must collect for multiple years of deficit operations, as defined by unique accounting formulas, as well as to fund proper operations and necessary capital upgrades.
“The City of Brandon continues to focus on delivering safe, clean water to all existing Brandon households at a fair rate,” says Ron Bowles, City of Brandon City Manager. “We know the high cost of living is making it harder for everyone to stay ahead, and no one, including City Hall enjoys seeing rates rise. However, the City of Brandon must catch up with the actual cost of water operations to prevent an even bigger rate jump later.”
Bowles also says that while we recognize that the new rates come into effect with short notice and are effective as of October 1, it is our legal responsibility to follow the PUB Board Order which considers the impact on both rate payers and the financial sustainability of Brandon’s utility.
City Hall and City Council have worked diligently with our federal and provincial partners to secure financial commitments, keeping Brandon’s costs down as much as possible. For example, the City recently received $61 million from the Federal and Provincial Governments to help upgrade our ever-important water treatment facility.
The next step in the process is for the Water and Wastewater Rates By-Law No. 7342 to be amended and presented to City Council at the next general City Council meeting on November 6, 2023.
The complete Board Order from the Public Utilities Board can be viewed on their website at: pubmanitoba.ca/v1/proceedings-decisions/orders/pubs/23-orders/119-23.pdf.
