Residents of the east side of Skaha Lake want more justification for a possible doubling of their annual water bill.
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May 27, 2013 - 5:25 PM
Residents on Skaha Lake's east side might appeal to the government if their water rates get doubled with little information given as to why.
Homeowner Doug Lychak said his annual water bill would be $912 if the provider, Lakeshore Waterworks, gets provincial approval to double its rate. Lychak and other homeowners want to know what the extra money will pay for.
Lakeshore Waterworks, a private firm, supplies fresh water for hundreds of homes. A message was left at the service provider's office on Westminster Avenue last week but there has been no response as of Monday afternoon.
Lychak said residents are not against the increase merely because it's an increase. The president of Heritage Hills/Lakeshore Highlands Homeowners Association and other homeowners want to know exactly what their money is paying for.
Lychak said the provider, Johnny Antjes, had repeatedly informed the association over a six-month period there was going to be an increase to pay for future costs.
"We don't see the justification," Lychak said. "We asked to see the financial statements over the last 10 years."
The association suggested to the province to pay more attention and help them get answers.
"We've asked for statements, capital expenditures... we've put that submission to the comptroller. He is supposed to be interested in seeing all of those things."
Lychak added water should be under government not private control. He objects to what he calls an essential service being under the control of a for-profit monopoly.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1
News from © iNFOnews, 2013