An increased rate for water meter users is one of the highlights of next year's utility budget for the city.
Homeowners will pay anything between $31 and $76 more next year for their water, sewer, garbage and recycling, depending on whether you live in an apartment, townhouse or single-family home.
But it's likely the increase to the water meter rates - which have been low for several years to encourage residents to sign up for metering - that will catch most people's attention.
Those living in single-family homes on a metered rate look set to pay almost eight per cent more next year for utilities, up $64.55.
People living in similar houses who're on the flat rate will still be paying more, but will be dealt a smaller increase, up five per cent for an additional $63.19.
The reason for the sharper increase on metered rates is because more people are signing up for the meters, causing revenue to fall.
A city council report, presented Monday to city council's general purposes committee, indicated that almost 70 per cent of single-family homes have now switched over to the meters.
And, although the uptake of meters in townhouse complexes is still low, the city anticipates that number to rise dramatically next year as it promotes metering more aggressively.
Next year, the city will also expand the current food scraps/organic and blue box recycling service.
Many of the utility cost increases come direct from Metro Vancouver and are out with the city's control.
For proposed and estimated rates, yet to be rubber-stamped, visit www. richmond-news.com.
