An increase in development charges for water and wastewater rates may be coming to some PUC bills in the next few months.
With a municipal bylaw set to expire next month, the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission is revising its development charges to fund water and wastewater infrastructure costs.
The current bylaw was introduced in 2004, and expires on March 25, 2024.
PUC General Manager Darren Galbraith says who carries the cost of development is an ongoing discussion.
Over a 10-year period, the PUC is expected to spend roughly $590-million on growth-related costs, $389-million of which is recoverable through development charges. That breaks down to $60.5 million through residential development and $328-million through non-residential development.
Galbraith says any difference would come through PUC water and wastewater rates.
The phase-in of development charges for 2024 would work out to an additional 83 cents for industrial, $6.64 for commercial or institutional, and $4.13 for greenhouse operators.
A full report will come to council March 4th to discuss further stakeholder consultation.
