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Two month extension for city utility customers
Businesses and residents in the City of Cranbrook now have an additional two months to make payments without penalty on their city utility accounts, following the adoption of the Utility Rate Penalty Deferral bylaw by council Monday night.
The adoption of this bylaw defers the penalty on unpaid utility bill balances from April 30 to June 30, 2020.
The two percent penalty is normally applied to any outstanding balances on utility bills, which covers the cost of city water, sanitary sewer and solid waste services. The decision by council to approve this bylaw was made in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic to help reduce the financial burden of residents and businesses.
Bylaws and bylaw amendments normally require two separate meetings of council in order to be passed, according to the Community Charter. To assist local governments in making important decisions quickly to support residents and businesses during this pandemic, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General passed Ministerial Order No. M083 on March 26, 2020 which allows for the adoption of a bylaw on the same day that the bylaw has been given third reading.
The January to April 2020 utility bills were mailed out in late March. Those wishing to receive a five percent full year prepayment discount are still required to pay the full amount by April 30, 2020.
With City Hall being currently closed to the public during this pandemic, there are several alternative options to make payments to the city.
We have an online payment portal available on our website where you can view, print, and pay bills by credit card online. You will need your account number and your access code for each bill you wish to register. Access codes will be printed on each bill as they are sent out. Please note a 2.4% convenience fee will apply to all credit card payments made online.
Payments can also be made through your online banking by searching ‘Cranbrook Utilities’ and using your eight- digit account number at financial institutions.
City Hall also has a drop box located at the front entrance. Payments can be dropped off by cheque or cash using the drop box. Receipts will be emailed upon request.
Property owners who are on the pre-authorized payment plan with the city will continue to have withdrawals made from their accounts the first of every second month. If you wish to cancel, or put these payments on hold, please contact the Finance Department at 250-489-0233.
The next city utility bill covering the period from May to August 2020, will be mailed out at the end of July and will be due on August 31. A two percent penalty will be applied to any unpaid balance at the end of that billing period.
City of Cranbrook
