Utility rate changes

Utility rates are updated on January 1 each year. Current utility rates vary depending on several factors including location and type of service. Detailed rate information is in the Fees and Charges schedule.

2025 rate changes

Effective January 1, 2025, there will be some changes in the water and wastewater costs on residents' monthly utility bills. Current utility rates vary depending on several factors including location and type of service. Detailed rate information is in the Fees and Charges schedule.

Utilities rates vary across the County, but for the average home in Sherwood Park, this will mean an increase of 4.09% on their utility bill. For an average household using 15 m3 of water this is an increase of $5.50 per month.

 
Change

Explanation

Water
(flat fee)

+ $0.15 Increase in rates to fund capital projects and future growth.

Water
(metered)

+$0.06 per m3 Increase in rates to fund capital projects and future growth.

Wastewater
(fixed O&M)

+$0.75 Increase for wastewater operations and maintenance, including infrastructure costs.

Wastewater
(variable O&M)

+$0.01 per m3 Increase for wastewater operations and maintenance, including infrastructure costs.

Wastewater
(treatment)

+$0.24 per m3 Increase in charges from Arrow Utilities to process wastewater, these are flow-through charges and not under the control of Strathcona County Utilities.
Stormwater - No change.
Waste  - No change.
Total $5.50  

Residents have the option to choose a smaller waste cart through the Sort and Save program to save $12 per month. Changing to a smaller organics cart is a further $1 per month savings.

 
Change

Explanation

Water
(truck fills)   

+$0.15 per m3 Increase in rates to fund capital projects including Ardrossan (Four Ridges) truck fill expansion. 

Utility rates explained

Water rates

  • Water — flat charge: This pays for the water meter, monthly billing and maintenance of fire hydrants.
  • Water — metered: This pays for infrastructure, operation and maintenance costs. The actual cost for each household will depend on the volume of water used. You can control some of the costs by following some simple water conservation practices.
  • Water — truck fills: For residents who purchase water from the Sherwood Park, Ardrossan or South Cooking lake truck fill stations.

Wastewater rates

  • Wastewater — fixed O & M: This fixed charge is to pay for the operation and maintenance of sewer lines.
  • Wastewater - variable O & M: This variable rate charge is to pay for the operation and maintenance of sewer lines. It based on your water consumption.
  • Wastewater — treatment: This charge reflects the cost of sewage treatment at ARROW Utilities (formerly the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission Treatment Plant). This charge is based on the amount of water consumed by each household. Wastewater treatment charges are calculated on 92.5% of water used to account for water that doesn’t enter the sewer system.

Stormwater rates

  • Sewer — storm: This pays for the maintenance of the stormwater facilities and collection system.

Waste management rates

Sample utility bills

The average home uses 15 m3 (cubic meters) of water each month. The example bills below are calculated based on this average. These bills show the standard rates for waste collection, not the Sort and Save rates.

These sample bills show the rates effective January 1, 2025.

Utilities
Phone: 780-467-7785
Email: scutilities@strathcona.ca

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Last updated: Wednesday, December 04, 2024
Page ID: 38289