About 10 per cent of homeowners in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody will be fined for not paying their utility bills on time.
PoCo city staff say the number of residents being penalized is generally the same as last year, while PoMo staff report a slight increase over 2010. "At this time last year, we had about nine per cent of utility bills outstanding," city spokesperson Leslyn Johnson said.
Figures for Coquitlam were not available by press time yesterday.
Water and sewer charges for single-family homes in PoCo are $648 plus $176 for garbage/recycling; a five per cent penalty would result in a $32.40 surcharge, said Mindy Smith, director of corporate services.
In Port Moody, the rates are as follows: $347 for water, $333 for sewer and $183 for garbage. Recycling rates for single-family households is $119 while multi-family units with green waste pick-up is $70; for multi-family households without green waste pick-up, it's $53.
Meanwhile, in Coquitlam, water rates for single- and multi-family homeowners jumped 7% over last year to $384 while sewer fees rose 4% to $387. Garbage/recycling levies tipped out at $326 - an 8% difference over 2010 - for occupants in detached homes.
The deadline for utility bills was March 31. The municipal property bills will be issued next month and are due in July.
jwarren@tricitynews.com
