'This was our utility': Alectra will stop handling Hamilton water bills
CBC
Hamilton city councillors say Alectra Utilities has blindsided them after the massive utility says it's too busy to continue delivering local water bills.
The utility, which formed in 2017 when Horizon Utilities merged with four others, says it has too large an area to cover and too much to do to keep handling water billing, city staff said last week.
So, even though Hamilton will pay Alectra $5.6 million this year to deliver water bills, Alectra says it can't do it after the contract expires in December 2024.
That left councillors — most of whom were in favour of the merger — venting.
"This was our utility," said Coun. Brad Clark (Ward 9, upper Stoney Creek) at an audit, finance and administration committee meeting last week. "And then we merged it under the agreement that this was going to improve efficiencies and do all these wonderful things."
"I find it incredibly disrespectful how it was done."
The city is a shareholder of Alectra, which is the second largest utility in North America. Mayor Fred Eisenberger was paid $41,250 last year to sit on the board, but had to declare a conflict of interest on the water billing vote.