Harmony rate application

In October 2024, EPCOR acquired Harmony Advanced Water Systems Corporation (“HAWSCo”), the water and wastewater utility systems that serve the Harmony community. Now known as EPCOR Harmony, we are thrilled to welcome this operation into the EPCOR family and look forward to serving the community with the same dedication and excellence that we bring to all our operations.

Before and throughout our acquisition, several important regulatory milestones took place to ensure fairness in water rate adjustments.

What you need to know:

September 1, 2023: HAWSCo asks the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) to review and approve their water rates for 2024-2025. This is the first step to ensure fair pricing for everyone.
September 20, 2024: The AUC approves HAWSCo’s new 2024-2025 water rates and directsthem to adjust the current rates to match the new orders. This ensures you receive the best service at the right price.
November 20, 2024: EPCOR Harmony files a request with the AUC to adjust water rates for 2025 part of 2024 to recover the approved 2024 revenue shortfall and 2025. This is important to make sure the rates are accurate and fair.
December 5, 2024: The AUC asks for more information to review EPCOR Harmony’s request. We provide the necessary details on December 12, 2024 to ensure everything is clear and transparent.
December 20, 2024: The AUC approves 2024 revenue recovery through a monthly rate rider, Rider A, in 2025.

What does this mean for you?

We are making sure that the water rates you pay are fair and reflect the actual costs of providing reliable service. The adjustments will ensure you are billed accurately, with any necessary corrections for the past year included in future bills. This process is overseen by the AUC to ensure transparency and fairness.

For more details, please visit the AUC proceeding 29630.

Frequently asked questions

The AUC is an independent regulator ensuring customers receive safe and reliable utility service at fair rates. Learn more at www.aub.ab.ca.

The AUC approved new rates for your water service on September 20, 2024. These rates, effective January 1, 2024, reflect the recent costs of providing safe and reliable service. You will see these changes on your September 2024 bill. Harmony is also transitioning from a flat rate to consumption-based billing.

We are updating customer accounts to reflect the newly approved 2024 rates. This adjustment will appear on your utility bill starting January 1, 2025, as a "Rate Rider A." This could result in either a credit or debit balance on your bill, ensuring accurate billing based on the approved rates.

Single-family customers: A 12-month Rate Rider A of $7.74 per month.
Commercial customers: An 18-month Rate Rider A of $166.15 per month.
Golf course customers: An 18-month Rate Rider A of $313.25 per month.

Customers eligible for credits will receive a one-time refund. The rate rider will be applied starting in January 2025. Notifications will be sent via our website, water bills and bill inserts.

A true-up adjusts for differences between forecasted and actual approved revenue, ensuring HAWSCo's revenue matches the AUC's approval. A true-up is not back-billing, which charges customers retroactively.

The AUC's decision on HAWSCo’s 2024 rate was made in September 2024. A true-up ensures HAWSCo recovers the exact amount approved by the AUC for the period of January to August 2024, covering the cost of providing reliable service.

Rate riders are special credits or charges on a customer’s bill approved by the AUC. They ensure the utility can recover or refund cost differences.

Rate-riders spread the shortfall over future bills, ensuring fair and transparent payment.
The process is overseen by the AUC to ensure customers only pay what was originally approved.