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Town of Westlock offering discount for residents who sign up for electronic utility bill

Residents will get $1 monthly credit for signing up
WES - town winter 2020 IMG-6951
In a bid to cut costs, the Town of Westlock is offering a $1 monthly credit to people who switch to e-mail billing for their utilities.

WESTLOCK – Town of Westlock residents who choose to get their utility bills delivered via e-mail will get a $1 monthly credit on their bills.

The push for less paper was included as part of the unanimous passage of the Consolidated Fees and Rates Bylaw 2017-01, Amendment Bylaw 2021-01 by councillors at their Jan. 25 meeting. A further addition to the bylaw that all charges over the $75 annual maximum as part of the Residential Landfill Card Program charged by the Westlock Regional Waste Management Commission will be billed on the monthly utility account (see separate story in this week’s edition) was also included in the bylaw.

CAO Simone Wiley said that trying to get more people to discard their hard-copy bills will ultimately save ratepayers and the municipality money as the more who sign up leads to less paper, envelopes and postage used.

“It saves the municipality money as we don’t have to mail a utility notice and all the associated costs. And administration is looking to pass that savings back on to the account holder,” said Wiley.

Coun. David Truckey liked the idea and was told at the Jan. 18 committee of whole meeting that about 23 per cent (444 accounts) of residents get their bills e-mailed. Finance director Julia Seppola told councillors at that same meeting they’re trying to make a push to get all accounts — the tax roll, accounts receivable and even bulk water — on e-mail.

“I think that the dollar credit for electronic is a super idea. It encourages people to sign up … I like it,” said Truckey. “I would hope that we double the number of people who receive it electronically as time goes on.”

“It would be saving us money and we would be passing it along,” added mayor Ralph Leriger.

George Blais, TownandCountryToday.com

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