NS Utility & Review Board Notice of Public Hearing

Details
Published: Wednesday, 31 August 2022 08:00

NOVA SCOTIA UTILITY AND REVIEW BOARD
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

*Notice amended 09/20/2022 to add evening session as requested by the Town of Trenton, see below.

THE TOWN OF TRENTON, on behalf of its WATER UTILITY has applied for approval of amendments to its Schedule of Rates and Charges for Water and Water Services and amendments to its Schedule of Rules and Regulations

This matter will be considered in a public hearing as follows:

Hearing Starts:
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
10:30 AM

*Evening Session:
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
6:00 PM

Hearing Location:
Trenton Annex
75 Park Road
Trenton, Nova Scotia

Depending on the circumstances, this public hearing may be held by GoToWebinar video conferencing.

Board Hearings are open to the public, and you may participate as follows:

  • You may speak at the hearing. You must notify the Board by Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

  • You may make written comments by sending a letter to the Clerk of the Board at P.O. Box 1692, Unit “M”, Halifax, NS B3J 3S3, or by email at: , or by fax at (902) 424-3919 by Wednesday, December 7, 2022.

  • You may request formal standing as an Intervener, subject to Board approval. This will allow you to present evidence or cross-examine witnesses. Your request must be received by the Board by Monday, September 19, 2022, and a copy of your written evidence by Wednesday, November 2, 2022.

Additional information about the matter is as follows:

For residential customers (5/8” meters), the current average quarterly water bill is $64.20, and it is proposed to increase to $141.60 (a 121% increase) in 2023/24; $165.47 (a 17% increase) in 2024/25; and $199.40 (a 21% increase) in 2025/26.

For all other metered services, the Utility is requesting amendments ranging from 0% to 148% in 2023/24; 0% to 22.4% in 2024/25; and 0% to 22% in 2025/26.

For unmetered customers the current average quarterly water bill based upon quarterly consumption of 272 cubic meters is $99.42, and it is proposed to increase to $213.41 (a 115% increase) in 2023/24; $252.04 (a 18% increase) in 2024/25; and $306.39 (a 22% increase) in 2025/26.

The wholesale rate for Pictou County, currently $543/quarter plus $1.02 per cubic metre is proposed to be amended to $1,766/quarter (a 225% increase) plus $1.88 per cubic metre (a 84% increase) for 2023/24; $3,278/quarter (a 86% increase) plus $1.98 per cubic metre (a 5% increase) for 2024/25; and $4,192/quarter (a 28% increase) plus $2.38 per cubic metre (a 20% increase) for 2025/26.

Amendments are proposed to the public fire protection charge paid by the Town of Trenton and Pictou County. The current annual fire protection charge is $136,672, and it is proposed to increase to $286,764 (a 110% increase) in 2023/24; increase to $332,507 (a 16% increase) in 2024/25; and to $372,930 (a 12% increase) in 2025/26. The total public fire protection charge is allocated between the Town and the Pictou County based on available water flow for fire.

Upon reviewing the Application, the Board, in its Decision, may determine that the proposed amendments should be as requested, higher, or lower.

A copy of the Application and any timetable applying to this matter may be viewed on the Board’s website at https://nsuarb.novascotia.ca/, by clicking on "Matters & Evidence", and in the "Go To Files and Documents”, enter Matter No. M10706.