The Editor,
Re. "City bills are due soon for water, sewer" (The Tri-City News, March 8).
I have just received my utility statement from the city of Coquitlam with a total amount of $772 for the current year. This amounts to a whopping increase of 134% over the previous ten (10) year period, an average of 13.4% per year.
In 2010, when I received my statement, I wrote a letter directed at city council complaining about the gigantic increase from the previous year and pointing out that in a six-year period they had increased the utility cost by 84%. The city had made statements that Metro Vancouver increased costs had made these increases necessary. I also pointed out that Coquitlam has representatives on the Metro Vancouver Regional District who have a voice and vote and I requested information as to how they voted. They did not respond.
Utilities like gas have controls on them through utility commissions. Hydro and Fortis have to go before a commission to justify rate increases. It might be time for the provincial government to place water, sewer and garbage under greater control in an attempt to get to grips on the unfettered actions of Metro Vancouver and the municipalities.
Henry Pritchard
Coquitlam
