"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Tuesday 21 June 2011

Still On Water

I just noticed something else in the information insert with the water bill.

If a person refuses to allow a meter to be installed, flat rate for water charged is $90. Wastewater is $70.

If a meter cannot be installed for physical reasons, the flat rate charged is $45.    Wastewater $35.

The average charge for metered water consumption in 2010 was $80.94, in 2011 $89.03

Wastewater for 2010 was $63,35 in 2011 $69.61.

An obvious question is, why is a consumer without a meter charged half as much as another consumer without a meter and half as much as the average consumer with a meter?

A reader has asked about multiple residential charge for storm water pond surcharge? The charge is calculated  by numbers of unit.

Something else that may not be generally understood is our system of management. The Directors form an Executive Leadership Team, headed by the Chief Administrative Officer. The CAO signs off on all recommendations to Council from individual department directors, indicating support for the recommendation

Team support and joint responsibility is assumed. I'm not sure how it is established. I am of course,accustomed to simpler times.

The information pamphlet item on meter reading states the meters are read each quarter to ensure consumers are billed  only for water used.

If the rate calculation includes water the municipality has "lost" or used ,that does not appear to be a correct statement. If entire cost of operations is included in the rate and not shared by the town for its use or "loss" that too would appear to skew things somewhat.

There is a phone number and an e-mail address to direct questions:
 Phone :  905.726.4747
 Email  koreto@aurora.ca
 Website:www.aurora.ca

3 comments:

Darryl Moore said...

"An obvious question is, why is a consumer without a meter charged half as much as another consumer without a meter and half as much as the average consumer with a meter?"

I think the obvious answer is that it depends on who is responsible for the meter not being installed. If the town in unable to install the meter, then it is not the consumers fault and in the absense of any other way to estimate usage, the town must make a conservative estimate.

If the consumer refuses to allow it, then the town should make less conservative estimates. Frankly I think the obvious question is, why does the town allow consumers to refuse? They should either stop providing water services or make very liberal estimates of usage. Perhaps charging twice the average!

Personally, I think $1.43/m3 for pottable water is extremely cheap, and my question back to you is, does the region cover all the costs of providing water through usage fees or is it subsidized at all through other tax sources?

I don't have as big an issue with user fees being used to cover the cost of unmetered usage. I think we as a society use far too much water already and perhaps covering the aditional costs this way will help encourage more conservation.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn, Can you tell us why the town council meeting was not televised last night? I was hoping to watch it live to see how the apology to council by the CFO would continue to play out. Can you give us an update on that?

Anonymous said...

I am very glad you did not get elected Mr.Moore.