Life is about to get more expensive for Hanna residents who refuse to join the 21st Century.![]()
Town council approved new utility rates at its last meeting, including a special $5.00 charge every other month for not switching over to the new electronic read water meters.
"It's going to save us a lot of money," argued mayor Chris Warwick. "Rather than having to go to each house, you just drive by, pick up a reading and away you go."
The discussion arose as Hanna town council approved raising the fixed operating charge for water by $10 per two month billing period, which works out to $5 per month.
"The residents have been really good, but we've got a few right now that are reluctant to let us into their house for whatever reason," Warwick told 99.5 Drum FM. "AltaGas have been changing meters and it's the same kind of thing they're running into. It's the last few that are the hardest."
"It's a little frustrating because you hang door hangars, you knock on the door, you call them and no answer," admitted the mayor. "It takes 15 minutes to do it (meter changeover) so it's not a hard thing."
In addition to a jump in the fixed water rate in Hanna, council approved upping the charge for water used by 20 cents to $2.52 per cubic metre.