Halifax Water wants to change controversial stormwater charge

Halifax Water wants to change the way residential customers are charged forstormwater costs and introducea tiered system, rather than billhomeowners the same amount.

"One of the pieces of feedback we received is 'I've got a small house and a small driveway; it doesn't really seem fair that I'm paying the same amount as that person over there who [has] a big house and a big driveway,"' said Cathie O'Toole, Halifax Water's chief financial officer.

Residential customers currently pay $39 a year. There was an outcry from people who don't use city water when the bills were first sent out, even though the charge is for runoff from properties that flows into Halifax Water's drainage systems.

Now, Halifax Water wants to move totiersbased on what it calls "impervious" or paved areas, which is sayswill make stormwater charges more fair.

Utility asking UARB for direction

On Friday, the utility filed a cost of service and rate design application with the Nova ScotiaUtility and Review Board. It isnot seeking an increase in rates but is looking for direction from the public and the board on how to best distribute stormwater costs.

Halifax Water said after two years of implementing and administering the charge, it reviewed the current system, looking at industry best practices, the fairest way to apply the charge and how to improve customer service and processes around it.

It's not about asking for a bigger pie, but how best to distribute the pie among customers,Halifax Water says.

"Most customers won't see a lot of difference," O'Toole said.

She said it will be the fall of 2016 before Halifax Water applies for any stormwater rate increases.