Utilities - City of Grand Forks

Grand Forks Owned/Operated Electrical Utility

New Service Applications

The City of Grand Forks is one of five municipalities in British Columbia that owns and operates its own electrical utility. Electrical Rates are billed on a bi-monthly basis. (Refer to the Bylaw Library Page of our website for updated Electrical rates)

Electrical Emergency After Hours: (250) 442-8266

UTILITIES CREW

Power Distribution Coordinator: Hennie Becker
Utilities Manager: Justin Dinsdale
Lineman: Myles Jalbert
Lineman: Florian Kalb
Electrician: Greg Van der Zande

Grand Forks Utility Billing Information

Electrical bills are issued bi-monthly as shown below:

MAILING DATE
by the last working date of the month below
December 16, 2022
February 26, 2023
April 25, 2023
June 25, 2023
August 27, 2023
October 30, 2023
December 18, 2023

BILL DUE DATE
First Thursday of month below
February 2, 2023
April 6, 2023
June 1, 2023
August 3, 2023
October 5, 2023
December 7, 2023
February 1, 2024

The Utility bills may be paid via the various methods outlined below.

Follow the links below for further information on Electrical Rates, Charges and Regulations.
Bylaw2067=Electrical-Utility-Regulation-Bylaw

Utilities and related Bylaws

Apply to turn your electrical connection on or off

Water/Sewer and Garbage service levies are invoiced bi-monthly.
User accounts for sewer and water based on meter consumption are billed bi-monthly.

For more information on fees for water, sewer and garbage services, please view our “Grand Forks Bylaw Library page”.

PAYMENT OPTIONS FOR ALL CITY UTILITIES

IN PERSON

Cash, cheques, money orders and Debit Card. Payments can be made at our location at 7217 – 4th street. There is also a drop slot for payments on the front door.

BY MAIL

Cheque or money order to the City of Grand Forks P.O. Box 220 Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0.

HOMEBANKING

Set the City of Grand Forks up as a vendor on your telephone or internet home banking system.

*** Payments will be processed on the Effective Date sent from your bank. Therefore, payments made late in the day after your bank’s cut-off time will be processed the following day. If you have any questions on the Effective Date, please contact your bank.

EQUAL PAYMENT PLAN

Automatic withdrawal from your account monthly or post-dated cheques for monthly payments.

Please contact the City Office to calculate your equal payment/automatic withdrawal payment options.

FORTIS BC

FORTIS BC delivers electricity and natural gas directly to homes and businesses across British Columbia. FORTIS BC is a provider of electricity to the communities of Castlegar, Creston, Grand Forks, Kelowna, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, Summerland and Trail. FORTIS BC provides natural gas to Grand Forks and is the largest natural gas distributor in the province.

www.fortisbc.com

Company-Net Importer or Exporter of Power:

Net Importer: purchases approx 50% of its generation from other sources.

Reserve Margin Including Generation & Net Purchases %: Not available

Average Electrical Service Availability Index – Most Recent Year: 99.9714

Average Electrical Service Availability Index – Last Five Years: 99.9563

Name of Power Pool Membership: Formal membership in WSCC & WSPP

State Electric Power Deregulated: Wholesale competition allowed

ELECTRICAL METER INFORMATION

Residential Meter Information

ITRON 100191SP 07 CENTRON CN1S – Meter

ITRON 100712SP 03 CENTRON C1SR R300 – Meter

ITRON CENTRON C1SR R300 – Meter

Water & Sewer Department

The City of Grand Forks Sewer and Water crew are responsible for the operation and maintenance of 36 km of sanitary sewer lines, 43 km of water lines and 258 fire hydrants, as well as an extended aeration wastewater treatment plant.

The Sewer and Water department consists of four persons certified in water distribution, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment.

The crew’s responsibilities include all aspects of installing sewer and water lines, maintenance – including flushing of water lines on a scheduled program, operation of the water and sewer system, troubleshooting water and sewer emergencies, repairing customers water and sewer services.

GRAND FORKS WATER & SEWER CREW

Utilities Coordinator: Dean Chapman
Utilities Operator Level II Utilities Assistant Coordinator: Len Federico
Utilities Operator Level II: Sukie Sorensen-Lawrence
Utilities Operator 2 – WWTP (Training): Michael Cassidy
Utilities Operator 1 (Training): Chris Strzelec

Sewer & Water Emergency After Hours: (250) 442-8266

* Non-emergency after hours calls will be charged the call-out overtime rate.

Water & Sewer Connection Information

Existing sewer and water accounts are transferred into a new owner’s name when the individual makes application for electrical service. There is no charge for initiating a utility account if the water is already turned on at the time of application. Should the water be shut off, the charge for connection is $50.00.

Water, sewer and garbage charges are billed to the owner of the property. For further information, please contact City Hall.

If water and sewer service is available at the property line (contact City Hall to establish availability), application to connect to the service may be made at City Hall. It is the property owner’s responsibility to bring his water and sewer lines to meet the City connections at the property line.

If City services are not available at the property line, City Hall will provide an application and agreement for water supply and service and/or sewer disposal service. Upon completion of the application an information package will be provided as how to proceed.

Larger commercial or industrial connections are handled with the above procedure also. All new residential construction must provide for the installation of water meters. New commercial, industrial or institutional construction require the installation of water meters as well as residential construction requiring a 1 inch line.

If sewer is not available and a septic system is required:

a) A septic permit must be obtained from the Health Inspectors’ office through the Ministry of Health. There is a 30 day appeal period before the issuance of a septic permit. A building permit will only be issued after the appeal period has elapsed.

b) In order to accommodate a septic field, a minimum lot area of 15,000 square feet (1400 square meters) is required (providing the lot is serviced by City water) for a residential property. For further information regarding lot size requirements contact City Hall or the Building Inspector.