COCHRANE— Town Council approved the reduction of a local residents' water bill after an issue emerged with a water metre radio recording.
Cochrane resident Marc Bilodeau appeared as a delegation before the council at the Monday (Jan. 11) regular meeting, after his water bill was significantly higher than anticipated at a small townhome he owns as a rental property.
Bilodeau requested a reduction in his water consumption charges for February to May 2020.
Traditionally his water bill averaged $165 a month, but for the months in question, he saw a cost as high as $1,000 in April.
The renters of the property lost their jobs due to COVID-19, he said, and eventually vacated the property at the beginning of April with no notice.
"They weren't in there most of the month and this is the month that had the high-water usage ... There was nobody in this unit at all so I don't see how this water consumption was used," Bilodeau said. "A $1,000 water bill was a little shocking."
During the months of February to April, the Town of Cochrane was unable to bill for the actual water consumption due to a failed radio communication with the water metre.
Town of Cochrane General Manager, Infrastructure Services Azam Khan said the radio does not measure water consumption and is only used to transmit data to the Town. The water metre was working correctly during the months in question.
Town staff learned of the radio failure on Feb. 26 and the device was originally set to be replaced by the end of March. The installation was later pushed to April 14 due to COVID-19 health protocols.
If the radio had been working Bilodeau would have received a warning from the Town regarding the increased water usage rates.
While the Town was unable to receive data from the radio Bilodeau's account was billed an estimated usage fee based on the property's water consumption history.
When the radio was replaced it was found the consumption rate was higher than estimated— The average historic water consumption for this account is approximately 12 m³ while the high consumption occurrence was approximately 208 m³.
Due to the radio not working the Town was unable to notify Bilodeau about the irregularities.
Upon being made aware Bilodeau said he checked fixtures on the property for leaks to account for the increased water consumption but was unable to locate a source.
The Town's current Water Utility Bylaw does not allow Town Administration to reduce water consumption charges as the only Council has the authority to address the request.
Council voted in favour of granting a reduction in Bilodeau's water consumption to Tier 1 water usage costs and directed Town Administration to work on a policy that would rectify similar situations that could emerge in the future.
"This is a precedence setting situation," said Mayor Jeff Genung. "If we make a change for you there would potentially be a line-up of residents looking for a reduction in rates."
Council debated the merits of a reduction, Genung said, adding the situation was largely a result of COVID-19.
He noted that if health measures had not been in place the Town would have been able to replace the water metre radio quickly rectifying the situation sooner.
Approving a charge at Tier 1 rates reflected that the metre at the residence was accurate, he said, while providing a break on the charges given Bilodeau received no warning notice on usage.
"We are billing on services rendered without piling on," Genung said.
Councillor Patrick Wilson said Bilodeau's request came down to a duty of care and the Town's obligation to warn him about the high-water usage.
"Do we owe a duty of warning or a duty of care to a resident that is using an exceptional amount of water," Wilson said. "I don't think a resident that hasn't been warned about his increased usage should be paying that increased tiered rate— They should probably all be charged at the minimum rate."
Bilodeau's request put Council in a precarious position, cautioned Coun. Morgan Nagel, because it could be a mistake by the Town of Cochrane or someone could be lying about water usage at the residence.
Nagel suggested the Town split the difference and provide a partial reduction to the bill.
"Something is afoot, so I guess my personal position is to split the difference somehow," Nagel said. "I don't know what to trust or what information to go of off in this instance."
Coun. Marni Fedeyko raised concerns that situations with high water rates may be something occurring to other Town residents.
"This is the second person, or the second place that I have heard has had water consumption charges even though they have been closed and there has been no water running," Fedeyko said. "I don't understand why necessarily people would be experiencing water charges when they have been shut down."
