Prince Albert to Charge $2 for Mailed Water Bills Starting June 1
The City of Prince Albert will begin charging water utility customers $2 per paper statement mailed after June 1. Customers can avoid the fee by switching to email billing before the deadline.
Starting June 1, the City of Prince Albert will charge water utility customers $2 for each paper statement mailed to them. The city says email billing is more reliable and reduces costs. Customers who do not switch to email billing by the end of May will receive the fee on mailed statements. Those who choose to pick up printed bills at City Hall will pay $10 per bill.
Brown, a senior resident, said she prefers paper billing despite having a computer. "I think it's terrible. We pay enough as it is," she said. Evan Swalm, president of the Prince Albert Seniors Heritage Centre, said the fee creates an unfair financial penalty for residents without digital access. Larry Newvillage, who does not have a computer, said he values the paper bill as a receipt.
George Marshall, the city's chief financial officer, said the fee is a cost-recovery measure. "We're trying very hard to be cost-effective for all of our taxpayers and reduce costs," he said. As of May, nearly 5,900 households receive electronic bills and about 5,800 receive paper statements. Marshall said the city will evaluate the impact of the change during its fall budget review.
Fedyk, executive director of the Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council, said the policy reduces paper generation. She noted that other Saskatchewan cities offer email billing without charging for paper statements and said utilities elsewhere may study Prince Albert's approach.
