2025 – Town of Hinton Water Meter Project

February 6, 2025

2025 Town of Hinton – Water Utility Fees:

How Does Utility Billing Work for Rental Properties?

The Town of Hinton’s Utility Bylaws state that the property owner is responsible for all fees. If a bill is unpaid after 90 days, the balance may be transferred to the property owner’s tax account. This policy is expected to remain unchanged with the updated utility rates..

Water Meters in Parks and Residential Buildings

The Town of Hinton is installing water meters in parks and residential buildings. Single-family homes and multi-residential buildings (like apartment complexes) are included in this plan. Here’s what we know as of February 3, 2025:

  • Utility Rates Change: Starting January 1, 2025, residential customers will be billed $101.10 per month for water, sewer, and garbage services. This is a change from the previous rate of $153.29 every two months.
  • Water Meters: Expected installation in 2025 for multi-residential buildings and 2026 for single-family homes. After installation, rates will reflect actual water usage.
  • Billing Timeline: Residents will see metered billing once the meters are operational, around August 1, 2025.

[Link to view the full updated post regarding current and future rates. ]

With the new utility rates, residents can expect a noticeable change in their overall expenses. Here’s a breakdown:

Previous Billing

  • Rate: $153.29 every two months
  • Annual Cost: $919.74

New Current Billing (until approximately August 1, 2025)

  • Rate: $101.10 per month per unit
  • Annual Cost: $1,213.20

Once the water meters are installed, the monthly cost will be billed based on usage – the more you use, the more you pay.

Water Meter Installation Timeline

The Town of Hinton has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) through the Alberta Purchasing Connection. A copy of the RFP can be found on their website.

RFP Timeline for Meter Installation

  • RFP final submission date: February 14, 2025.
  • Anticipated Start Date: April 1, 2025.
  • Expected Completion Dates:
    • Multi-residential: August 1, 2025 (This includes our parks).
    • Single-family: March 1, 2026.
    • Commercial / Industrial:  December 1, 2026.

Impact: Bills will be based on actual water usage, so costs may vary depending on individual consumption habits. Residents who use less water could potentially save money, while higher water users might see an increase in their bills.

Questions from Residents

Residents of the parks have several questions about the new water meter and billing system. These are some of the questions HMCA will be looking to have answered on behalf of our members. We will keep you informed as we get answers to these questions.

There are some key considerations that are top of our list:

  • Billing Party: It’s still unclear if charges will be billed directly to park residents or park owners.
  • Lot Rent Adjustments: If residents are billed directly, will the park owners adjust lot rental fees to reflect this? Will the lot rent still include sewer and garbage fees?
  • Usage-Based Charges: Metered billing will reflect actual water use, encouraging conservation and potentially leading to savings for mindful users.

Related Questions

  • Will metered charges be billed to park owners or residents?
  • If billed to residents, will park owners adjust lot rental fees, as water will no longer be paid by them?
  • If property owners pay the fees, will residents be charged based on their own usage?
  • Who will collect the water, sewer, and garbage fees – the town or park owners?
  • Will sewer and garbage fees continue to be included in the lot rental charge?

If you have additional questions regarding the water meter changes and how they will affect the park residents and owners, please send us an email at: HMCA-Communications@HintonMobileCommunity.ca

We will do our best to find the answers.

Overall, the key impact is an initial increase in utility expenses, with potential for further adjustments post-meter installation. HMCA will ensure the parks’ residents and owners stay informed. It may not be a bad idea to consider water-saving practices to manage costs effectively.

UPDATE:  February 7, 2025

Following up on some water meter questions with the Town:

The park owners had two choices for water meter installation:

  • Individual water meters for each unit:
    • Each unit would pay its own water bill.
    • The water bill would include a flat fee plus the cost for water used by your unit.
  • Bank water meters:
    • All the meters would be in one central location (bank);
    • Charges would be a flat monthly fee based on the number of active units plus the cost for water used.

We were informed that the park owners chose the individual unit meters. This means that installing these meters will be part of Phase 2 (along with all the residential homes) expected to be completed by August 2026. We’ll start paying for our water directly to the Town in the fall of 2026.

Additionally, a water meter will be installed in a ‘vault’ on the park property to measure the park’s total water consumption, monitored by the Town. Comparing the total consumption with individual meters will help the Town detect any leaks or possible damage to the water lines in the park.

If you have any questions regarding the water meter project, please email them to HMCA-Communications@HintonMobileCommunity.ca