(Wingham, North Huron) — A current North Huron water and sewer bill confirms what many residents have suspected: utility costs are already high — and set to climb steadily for years, with no protection for ratepayers.
The bill, dated December 2025, shows an in-town residential household currently paying $138 per month, or $1,656 per year, for water and sewer services. That total includes both operating charges and capital reserve fees — the full amount residents are required to pay.
What Residents Pay Today
According to the invoice:
- Water (Operating): $22 / month
- Water (Capital Reserve): $22 / month
- Sewer (Operating): $54 / month
- Sewer (Capital Reserve): $22 / month
Total: $138/month → $1,656/year
These are not estimates. They are actual billed charges.
What the Town’s Own Policies Mean Going Forward
Town Hall’s 2026 Fees and Charges notice states that:
- Water rates increase 4.5% annually
- Sewer rates increase 10% annually
- Increases are planned through at least 2033
While the notice separates “operating” and “reserve” fees, capital reserve charges are not frozen and historically rise alongside operating costs when infrastructure funding falls short.
Using the Town’s stated increase rates and applying them conservatively across both operating and reserve portions, projected household costs look like this:
Projected In-Town Water & Sewer Bills (Including Capital Reserves)
| Year | Annual Bill |
|---|---|
| 2026 | $1,656 |
| 2027 | $1,761 |
| 2028 | $1,872 |
| 2029 | $1,996 |
| 2030 | $2,133 |
That’s an increase of $477 by 2030 compared to today, representing a 29% rise in just four years — with no change in service and no link to actual water usage.
Flat Billing, No Meters, No Control
Despite existing water meters, North Huron continues to bill residents at a flat monthly rate, meaning:
- Conservation does not reduce bills
- Households pay the same regardless of usage
- Residents have no ability to control costs
If Council ever returns to metered billing, homeowners would be responsible for meter replacement costs — another expense shifted onto residents.
High Taxes, Rising Fees, Shrinking Accountability
These rising utility costs come on top of what many already consider an unacceptable tax burden.
Independent comparisons show at least 425 Ontario municipalities have lower tax rates than North Huron, placing the Township among the least efficient and most expensive jurisdictions in the province.
High taxes are supposed to deliver value.
High fees are supposed to fund services.
Instead, residents are facing locked-in increases and diminishing accountability.
February 2: Residents Urged to Speak Up
A regular North Huron Council meeting is scheduled for:
🕕 Monday, February 2 — 6:00 PM (Groundhog Day)
Residents concerned about affordability, transparency, and long-term financial planning are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and demand clear answers about:
- Why increases are locked in years ahead
- Why capital reserve growth is uncapped
- Why flat billing continues despite existing meters
- Why one of Ontario’s highest-taxed communities keeps paying more
Municipal costs rarely go down once normalized.
Silence today becomes policy tomorrow.
This is the moment for residents to speak — before the increases become permanent.
