SUDBURY -- Recognizing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Utilities Commission in Sault Ste. Marie is keeping water rates lower than planned going into 2021.
On Monday, the PUC’s board of directors approved a monthly increase of $1.03 for the average residential customer.
"This 2.5 per cent change to water rates is much lower than the expected 6.5 per cent that was initially forecasted in PUC’s seven-year financial plan, and rests just above the traditional rate of inflation," the PUC said in a news release Monday.
"This approved rate will allow PUC to continue to provide safe, reliable water services while taking on important capital work in 2021 with an investment of $7.7 million."
PUC residential customers pay lower-than-average annual water costs when compared to other Ontario municipalities, the release said.
“As a community utility, we are taking a balanced approach to ensure quality is maintained while recognizing the financial challenges some of our customers may be facing during the pandemic,” Robert Brewer, president and CEO of PUC Services Inc., said in the release.
“It was important to us that we keep our rates as low as possible to offer relief to our customers during this challenging time.”
“We approved the smallest increase possible that would allow the PUC to continue to offer the safe and reliable services that customers depend on, while keeping rates low during the ongoing pandemic,” said Mark Howson, chair of the PUC’s board of directors.
For more information on PUC’s water rates, click here.
