Time for the PUB to review Winnipeg water rates

Just over a month ago, the Public Utilities Board made a decision regarding water and sewer rates for Russell, Binscarth, Angusville, Rossburn and Gambler First Nation. The area is serviced by the Russell-Binscarth Water and Wastewater Utility, which currently has 1,014 customers. The utility faces a significant issue with "unaccounted for water," which refers to water that is lost during distribution and is not recorded.

Industry standards dictate that water systems typically lose around 10% of their total water production, but the Russell-Binscarth utility lost 17.3% of its water in 2025, an amount considerably higher than the industry standard. This excessive water loss poses a concern to the Public Utilities Board, which has directed the municipality to monitor leaks and submit an updated plan to address the issue by December 31, 2026.

The City of Winnipeg, however, enjoys an exemption from the Public Utilities Board's review of its utility rates. This exemption allows the city to set rates as it sees fit and to collect additional revenue as a cost-recovery fee, effectively functioning as a tax on top of the standard charges. Critics argue that such an exemption is unjust, as water and sewer utilities should be subject to the same level of scrutiny as other municipal utilities.

They suggest that the provincial government should reconsider Winnipeg's exemption, as it essentially enables the city to profit from its water and sewer services without facing the same level of accountability and regulation as other utility providers.