Tier Tears

...tears that flow from eyes.

While GVW bureaucrats and GVAC directors blather on (see "Top Hat" blog story of today) about the 2 per cent GVW water rate increase -- which may in effect now come in as high as 9 or 10 per cent -- the juxtaposition of another Morning Star story in the same issue was almost laughable.

That is, if it hadn't been so sad.

What a difference in water rates is found 13 miles (21 kilometres) away!

Armstrong residents pay $113.83 per year for water.

GVW customers pay $101.80 per quarter!  for no consumption!

Today's story on Armstrong's water rates stated "we used to pay an average of $155 a year for water, the average under this (plan) will be $113.83.  That's quite a difference compared to $155," stated Armstrong councillor Shirley Fowler.

Holy crow!  We GVW customers pay $101.80 PER QUARTER IN BASE FEES ALONE!  no consumption included!

And tiers?  Armstrong continues to allow for 360 cubic metres of consumption at the lowest rate tier for both billing periods combined," stated Terry Martens of the city.

"Chris Pieper for mayor of Vernon and Coldstream, as well as GVAC chair/director and Board member," suggests Kia.

That's not the first time that's been suggested either...
Are you listening, GVW and GVAC and Board and Mayors????  

Thirteen miles might as well be in another solar system if we're talking about water rates!  

Waters' Poor Relatives?

...yet according to the Okanagan Basin Water Board's motto, Kelowna and Armstrong might as well be in another province.

Source:  Okanagan Basin Water Board website

One valley, yes.
One water, supposedly.

If it's one valley and one water, the problem must be too many bureaucrats.
Bureaucrats who may have erred in choosing Duteau Creek as a water source.

All signs point to that as the Stakeholders Advisory Committee deliberates TM 9 (System Separation Option Analysis) this Thursday at RDNO's 8 a.m. meeting.

Open to the public.
Hint hint!

After having heard that Armstrong's water "mock" billing period has ended, and their rates published, it seems most folks pay about $65 to $85 annually for their residential water!

Thirty-one cents a cubic metre for water in Armstrong!

Then, we hear about a Kelowna resident on a city lot, two adults.
Covered was the annual period ending October 9, 2015.
Consumption?  390 cubic metres (so they must've had a wonderfully productive vegetable garden for their family and friends...good for them!)
Total bill, including sewer was $421.62!

My annual residential water bill?  At less than half the Kelowna example, my household of two adults used 155 cubic metres of water.  No veggie garden to speak of.
Total bill 2014, no sewer was $534.00.

"No wonder the North Okanagan is the poor relative of Kelowna and Armstrong," intones Kia.

Our wallets?
Full o' cobwebs...

Armstrong, here we come

Today's Morning Star feature on mock water bills--as Armstrong moves towards a consumption-based water system--is an eye opener for those of us under Greater Vernon Water's system.

...more like a smack in the face with

a 10-pound lake trout, actually. 

Armstrong's rates are on a six-month billing cycle. 
The period covered is April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015.

Let's compare my residence's bills with their rates:

My residence on the GVW system was billed the following for the same 6-month period:

Apr. 1 through June30 /15:  base rate $101.80, consumption $32.88 for 34 cubic metres
July 1 through Sept. 30/15:  base rate $101.80, consumption $160.53 for 107 cubic metres
Total for 141 cubic metres was $397.01, just over $2.80 per cubic metre.

What would the bill have been in Armstrong, including their $19.30 flat six-month minimum charge?

The 141 cubic metres my residence consumed would've cost $63.01 if I lived in Armstrong.

Thirty-one cents a cubic metre !!

$63.01 !!

$397.01 on Greater Vernon Water's "system".

"GVW isn't a system," offers Kia, "it's a con game." 

 


If we weren't already sitting down, we could be excused for falling over!

Move over folks! 
Heading to Armstrong...