Tri-City residents may be getting their income tax rebates this month but they'll also have to shell out for utilities.
The bill for water, garbage, recycling and, in some cities, sewer is due April 2 and those who don't pay the annual levy will be fined 5% of the full amount.
Here's the breakdown for rates in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody:
COQUITLAM
Water: $423 (all residential)
Garbage and recycling: $349 for single-family homes (multi-family homes don't have city trash collection but can receive city recycling pick-up at $40 per unit)
Sewer: $365 (on the property tax bill in July)
PORT COQUITLAM
Water: $417 (single-family), $391 (townhouse), $371 (condo)
Garbage: $176.30 (single-family)
Sewer: $306 (single-family); $287 (townhouse); $272 (condo)
PORT MOODY
Water: $338 (all residential)
Garbage and recycling: $192 (all residential)
Sewer: $317 (all residential)
As well, Port Moody has a green waste charge of $114 for single-family homes and duplexes, and $32 for multi-family units.
As an incentive to cut costs, the city of Port Moody offers residents a 5% discount if they paid their utility bills before Feb. 28.
Utility bills can be paid online. In Coquitlam and Port Moody, credit cards are accepted for utilities but not for municipal property taxes. Port Coquitlam does not allow credit card payments for either.
Metro Vancouver, which oversees water and sewage, has a capital program estimated to total $2.3 billion over the next decade, meaning water and sewer charges are not likely to go down anytime soon. In fact, water charges alone are expected to rise 8% annually in the next few years.
