The City of Kamloops is moving forward with plans to overhaul its water and sewer billing system, aiming to give residents more control over their utility costs and encourage water conservation.

At a recent Committee of the Whole meeting, Greg Wightman, Utilities Services Supervisor for Kamloops, presented proposed changes that would shift the city’s revenue generation from fixed rates toward a more usage-based, volumetric billing structure. The new system would feature two tiers of fixed charges based on service size and inclining block rates, where higher water consumption results in higher charges.

“This new rate structure means that if you use more water, you’ll pay more, and if you use less, you’ll pay less,” Wightman explained. “Council supported this approach, which incentivizes conservation and gives people more direct control over their bills.”

Under the proposal, properties with service lines of two inches or less — primarily residential homes and small-scale multi-unit housing developments — would be charged one fixed rate, while larger commercial properties with service lines over two inches would pay a different fixed rate.

The city plans to maintain the current billing structure throughout 2026 to allow time for public education and provide mock bills showing what residents’ charges would look like under the new system. The proposed rate structure would then take effect in 2027, pending final Council approval.

Another significant change under consideration is the transition from semi-monthly or quarterly billing to monthly billing. According to Wightman, this shift would provide more timely feedback to residents on their water use and costs, enabling them to adjust their habits sooner and potentially reduce their bills.

“Monthly billing aligns well with a volumetric rate structure because customers receive more immediate information on their water consumption and the corresponding cost,” he said. “Currently, with quarterly billing, people often don’t see their bills until several months after the water was used, which makes it harder to respond quickly.”

Council’s recent feedback was largely supportive, with direction given to continue refining the proposals and bring a detailed report back for consideration in early 2026.

Residents can expect more information and opportunities to review the proposed changes throughout the coming year as the city works toward implementing a more equitable and conservation-minded utility billing system.

All of the bylaw proposed changes will still need to be passed at a regular council meeting and the fee structure would be presented as part of next years budget.