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Utilities and Levies

The water and sewer utility provides the City of Thompson with the necessary funds to conduct a study on the infrastructure, and prioritize and replace the underground infrastructure, rather than just repairing.

PUB WATER UTILITY RATE PUBLIC HEARING 2018

the Public Utilities Board and the City of Thompson recently hosted a public hearing regarding the proposed utility rates from 2017-2019. A Powerpoint presented to residents by the City of Thompson at this hearing is available below.

PUB Public Hearing Presentation - Presented January 23, 2018
 
Utility Rates

Residents in Thompson pay three fees associated with the water utility. One is a flat fee charged regardless of water use (and includes 14 cubic meters of water): this helps prevent budget shortfalls due to unusually low use. There is also a rate per cubic meter of water used and drained in excess of 14 cubic metres in a three-month billing period.

The current water and wastewater rates have been in place since July 1, 2022.


YearFlat RateWater Rate (cubic cm)Sewer Rate (cubic cm)Special Levy (Annual)
2024$100.60$3.81$1.79$91.91


Thompson's water and sewer infrastructure is at a time of transition. For most of Thompson's history, water was provided for free to residents by INCO/Vale Canada, who owned the water treatment plant. In 2010, the ownership of the plant began to be transferred to the City of Thompson, and a water utility rate was charged for the first time.

As people start to pay for water, they use less water to save money, but the cost of operating the plant doesn't change proportionally to the amount of water people use. Therefore, the less water that people use, the higher the cost per cubic meter. Thompson's utility base continues to undergo that correction.

Utility FAQ's

Utility By-Laws

CONTACT US

If you have any questions regarding the City of Thompson Utility please call us at 677-7950 or email us at utility@thompson.ca 

Listed below are the City of Thompson Utility Rates Documents:

How do I pay my water bill?

Water bills can be paid by cash, cheque, or debit at City Hall's front desk, or by mailing a cheque. 

You can also make payments through online banking, or send an e-transfer using the following information:

1. Add a new contact or payee using the email payments@thompson.ca

2. Select "Notify Contact by Email" (or otherwise ensure your payment notification will be sent by email)

3. Under "Messages," include your name and utility account number

4. The answer for your security question should always be "Thompson"

How do I open or close a water utility account?

If you are moving into a new home, fill out the Residential Customer Information Form and drop it off at City Hall or fax it to 204-677-7936.

If you are moving out, call us at 204-677-7950 and let us know the date you will be moving and a forwarding address to send the final bill to. We do final readings every Friday.

How do I start a water utility account for a tenant?

If a tenant is responsible for paying the water bill as part of their rental agreement, landlords must ensure that the tenant completes the Residential Customer Information Form and drops it off at City Hall.

What is the bleeder rebate program?

 During the winter, the City of Thompson offers a rebate to properties that must run their water to keep their lines from freezing (mainly homes located in the Burntwood trailer court). The rebate applies to the quarters of October 1-December 31 and January 1–March 31. The rebates are based on your average monthly use from April 1 to September 30. Running your water after March 31 will affect your rebate.

The Bleeder Rebate must be pre-approved and no rebate will be applied by the City of Thompson prior to receiving the application.

To register for the Bleeder Rebate please send a letter, including your name, address, contact number and reason for the request to:

Utility Clerk 

226 Mystery Lake Road 

Thompson, MB R8N 1S6 

Email: utility@thompson.ca 

Fax: 204-677-7936

Why does my water bill seem unusually high?

Make sure you are not running any water. Shine a flashlight on your meter (the meter will look blank until you do this). There are three screens which will come up: the one you are looking for will be the reading. Initially it will be the third screen, then the screens will alternate between rate and reading. If the numbers are changing, water is running.

If the meter shows a faucet symbol with a drip, this means it detects a leak. If the icon is flashing, the leak is intermittent. If it is not flashing, it is continuous. 

The majority of leaks resulting in higher-than-usual bills have been linked to toilets. To check your toilet, follow the instructions below.

1. Pour several drops of food colouring into the tank of your toilet.

2. Do not flush for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Look at your toilet bowl: if the water has changed colour, your toilet is leaking.

The City of Thompson does not provide discounts for higher-than-usual water bills resulting from leaks. Property owners are 100% responsible for ensuring that plumbing and fixtures are in good working order.

Fee and Fine
Fee and Fine