SASKWATER ANNOUNCES RATE INCREASES

SaskWater will increase its rates to general rate customers beginning July 1st. Those customers who buy treated or untreated water from SaskWater and those whose agreements do not include a clause providing automatic rate increases are affected by this rate increase.

Rates will increase for 27 municipal customers, 23 industrial customers and 268 "domestic" customers (including pipeline associations, water co-operatives and rural households). These customers represent two-thirds of SaskWater's customers and about 1.6 per cent of the provincial population.

Most rates for potable (treated) water will increase from about $7.00 per sales unit (1,000 gallons) to $7.56 per sales unit. Non-potable (untreated) water rates will also increase from $2.32 to $2.46 per sales unit.

"SaskWater is committed to providing good quality water at competitive prices in rural Saskatchewan and in urban communities," Minister responsible for SaskWater David Forbes said. "This rate increase is necessary as it helps address rising costs to deliver water; including electricity, energy, labour, purchased water and improve infrastructure to ensure water quality meets today's improved water safety standards."

Customers whose contracts include automatic rate adjustments and those with negotiated prices higher than the new rates are not affected by this rate increase.

SaskWater is the Crown water utility providing competitively priced, customer-focused, water and wastewater services to Saskatchewan industries, First Nations, municipalities and rural water groups.

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For More Information, Contact:

Karyn Mossing SaskWater Moose Jaw Phone: (306) 694-3009