Water Rates

Alectra will discontinue utility water billing in several municipalities, including the City of Hamilton. These changes are expected to occur at the end of 2024. There will be no changes to your water, wastewater and stormwater billing, payments and invoices until that time.

More information will be provided in 2024 – until then, you will continue to receive a combined electricity and water bill from Alectra Utilities.

Alectra Utilities has committed to working with the City of Hamilton to provide customers with a smooth transition as water billing services during the transition.

For more information, visit Important Notice to Municipal Water Customers and Hamilton Water - Alectra Utilities

Water and Property Tax Billing Considerations at Closing

The City of Hamilton recognizes that transferring ownership of a home or business is complex, and part of that process is ensuring the seller is making good on paying off municipal water utility charges and/or municipal property taxes. No buyer wants to be on the hook for another person’s unpaid bills – but it can happen.

For Hamilton properties serviced with municipal water and wastewater services:

Sellers should contact the City’s water billing agent, Alectra Utilities @ 1-833-ALECTRA (1-833-253-2872) to provide a forwarding address and move-out date. By doing so, Alectra can then forward the final water invoice to the new address.

Buyers should contact Alectra to advise of their move-in date and to provide contact information for future correspondence. Please note all residential accounts must be opened and billed in the name of the registered owner(s) of the property, and not the name of any tenant(s).

Additionally, buyers should request from Alectra an Arrears Certificate (applicable fee of $15.00 plus H.S.T.) that will provide the payment status of the water account and will advise if the account is being based on estimated readings.

The Certificate notes the account is subject to adjustment arising from the final water invoice. It is important the final invoice be based on an actual water meter reading taken on the date of closing (meter readings can be submitted to Alectra by phone or via an online form). Unbilled consumption is the responsibility of the property owner at the time an actual read is obtained.

Water and wastewater services are provided to a property, not a person, and are regulated under the Municipal Act. The Act gives municipalities the authority to collect unpaid fees and charges by adding them to the municipal tax bill for the property that received the service.

It is prudent for the Buyer to hold back funds from the seller to ensure the final water invoice is paid. Unpaid water arrears are transferred to the property tax roll, 60 post invoice due date and therefore, an unpaid final water invoice would become the responsibility of the buyer. Buyers may contact Alectra to confirm if the final invoice has been sent out and if it has been paid.

Buyers should review what is – and what is not – covered under title insurance policies. Some policies have an exclusion built in for final meter reading charges.