The City of North Bay launched its eServices Web Portal on Tuesday afternoon, which allows citizens to track their water meter consumption data. PHOTO BY LIAM BERTI
The city officially launched its highly anticipated eServices Web Portal on Tuesday.
The new service allows residents to register and monitor their specific up-to-date water meter consumption data via an online bill estimator.
“This ePortal is allowing citizens to log in using their account number from their property tax bill or water bill and from there they will be able to view any water usage for any property they own,” Deputy Mayor Sheldon Forgette explained after Monday night’s council meeting.
On top of keeping a closer eye on everyday water consumption, the portal will allow residents to identify and check for any unknown leaks or unexpected usage behaviour.
The recently approved water meter billing structure will meet the city’s cost recovery model by billing residential units on a 60 per cent fixed rate and 40 per cent variable rate.
That translates into a $31.06 flat charge per month for the fixed rate plus $1.45 per cubic metre of water used.
Spearheaded by Coun. Derek Shogren, the final plan calls for the new water meter rates to take effect in September, which gives citizens two month’s worth of data to prepare for the drastic change.
“July and August being some of the heaviest usage months, we thought it was important that people get a chance to see how expensive these bills would be before we go straight to the metered billing,” Shogren said after the successful vote back in May.
The city intends to have electronic monthly billing implemented by January 2016. Those who want to stick with regular mail billing at that time will be charged a monthly paper-billing fee.
Forgette said Tuesday’s launch is an exciting step in the right direction for the city, with hopes of adding additional services to the eServices Portal in the near future.
“My hope for the online portal is to have more services on there like adding ways to pay tickets, pay property taxes and maybe even record management so you can see your property taxes going back years,” said Forgette. “This is just the beginning.
“I think the most important thing I want to see happen on there is implementing surveys,” he added. “I think we should be surveying citizens to see how we are making out as a city and what we need to do to better the city, so I’m excited for it.”
To visit the new portal and track your data, click here: https://goo.gl/qJ4iek
