Harmony water rate application

As Harmony continues to grow, EPCOR is making investments to ensure wastewater service remains safe and reliable for customers today and into the future. In your October bill (received November), customers will see changes to wastewater charges that support ongoing system improvements and capacity needs. You will also see a one-time water adjustment related to the Alberta Utilities Commission's (AUC) final 2026-27 water rate decision. 

Every day, the system collects, transports and treats wastewater from homes and businesses across the community. To continue providing reliable service, EPCOR is investing in additional wastewater infrastructure and future capacity solutions. 

These upgrades will help ensure wastewater continues to be managed safely, protect public health and the environment, and support the community's future needs.  

Wastewater rates have remained unchanged for 10 years. During that time, operating costs have increased, infrastructure needs have evolved and additional capacity has become necessary. 

Because these investments are needed now, customers will begin seeing changes to their water, wastewater and stormwater bills starting with October’s billing period (received in November).

The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approved final 2026-27 water rates in July 2026. These approved final water rates are effective as of January 1, 2026. Because interim rates were in place on February 1, 2026, most customers will see a one-time adjustment of approximately $35, depending on water use, in addition to updated rates moving forward.

To support required infrastructure investments, customers will see: 

• Updated 2026 wastewater and stormwater rates 
• A temporary wastewater and stormwater 2026 Deferral Recovery charge that spreads servicing costs incurred from January to September 2026 over a 15-month period, helping reduce the impact of a larger one-time increase. 
• Additional wastewater increase in 2027.  

The example below reflects a typical residential customer using approximately 16 m³ of water per month, flat stormwater and wastewater fees and paying applicable 2026 rate deferral recovery.

Harmony's wastewater system is reaching capacity. Some infrastructure has reached the end of its service life and needs to be replaced.

The community's wastewater treatment system can no longer accommodate continued growth without additional investment. 

To maintain reliable service, EPCOR is investing in infrastructure and additional capacity.

Wastewater rates have remained largely unchanged for approximately 10 years, while:

• Population growth has increased demand
• Operating costs have increased
• Infrastructure requirements have grown
• Future capacity solutions have become necessary

We're committed to finding the most practical and cost-effective solution.

EPCOR is evaluating several options, including:

• New infrastructure to transport wastewater to treatment facilities 
• Regional treatment solutions
• Future wastewater plant expansion

We take a staged planning approach, which means we invest when infrastructure is needed rather than building years ahead of demand. This helps balance affordability with reliable service.

A wastewater rate deferral recovery will be applied for 15 months beginning in the October 2026 billing period, which you’ll be billed for in November 2026. 

This rate deferral recovery allows EPCOR to recover wastewater costs between January and September 2026 while spreading the impact over time. 

For a typical residential customer, the recovery rate is expected to be approximately $20.68 per month and is reflected in the total impacts above. This approach reduces bill impacts compared to a larger one-time adjustment. 

Here’s how a bill could look with the 2026 rate deferral recovery broken out:

Example customer, using 16m³ per month

^{*Water costs will vary depending on customer consumption. This example assumes a customer uses 16m3 of water per month and does not exceed block 1 usage.}

^{1 The monthly water charge of $88.28 reflects a $44.88 fixed water charge and a $2.50/m³ volumetric charge, assuming monthly consumption of 16 m³, with the previously implemented 4% interim water rate increase applied to both components effective February 1, 2026.}

^{2 The monthly wastewater and stormwater charge of $89.25 reflects a base wastewater charge of $75.00 and stormwater charge of $10.00, with the previously implemented 5% interim rate increase applied to both components effective February 1, 2026.}

• 2026 Water AUC Rate Decision (Decision 30645-D01-2026)
• Harmony Water Rates Terms & Conditions
• Harmony Wastewater Rates Terms & Conditions
• Harmony Tariff Rates