Paying Your Bill

Internet or telephone banking

Have your seven digit account number handy and pay using internet or telephone banking. Many institutions provide online services, such as:

• CIBC
• TD Bank
• RBC
• Bank of Montréal
• Scotiabank
• Credit Union Central of Ontario

In-person (drop-box only)

Drop off a cheque or cash payment at the drop-box located outside the front doors of the Municipal Office main entrance (600 Tomlinson Drive, Port Elgin).

Mail

You can mail your cheque or post-dated cheque, along with your billing stub to:

Town of Saugeen Shores

600 Tomlinson Drive, P.O. Box 820
Port Elgin, ON N0H 2C0

Pre-authorized payment

To enroll in our Monthly Budget Plan or Due Date Plan through pre-authorized payments, please complete our online Pre-Authorized Payment Form. You can also download and complete a physical copy of our Customer Pre-authorized Debit (PAD) Agreement.

Monthly Budget Plan

Pre-authorized bill payments are made by debit from your bank account on the first business day of each month.

• If there is an underestimation of the monthly budget amount, any outstanding account balance will be withdrawn on the last business day of the year.
• Any credit balances will remain on account and factored in the calculation for the next year's budget amount. 

Due Date Plan

Pre-authorized bill payments are taken from your bank account on the due date specified on your utility bill.

Water and wastewater rate structure

Our Water Financial Plan and Wastewater Financial Plan set out projected annual utility rate increases. This is to help operate, maintain and upgrade the water and wastewater system over a 15-year period.

Our water and wastewater rate structure ensures that the monthly capital contribution charges will pay for the debt, capital, reserve and major upgrades needed for our water and wastewater treatment, collection and distribution system. It ensures that all users are contributing to these infrastructure costs through their consumption charge. Revenue collected through water rates pay for water services. Revenue collected through wastewater rates pay for wastewater services.

Some of these upgrades can include:

• Water or wastewater line upgrades
• Pumping station upgrades
• Hydrant replacement
• Water and sewage treatment plant upgrades

The rate structure takes into consideration the diverse make-up of our community. Around 30% of Saugeen Shores residential properties are seasonal. We want to ensure all property owners, regardless of residency status, are contributing fairly to the fixed costs of delivering water and collecting waste. Treatment plants, pumping stations, and the distribution and collection system are available to all residents, year-round.

Current water and wastewater rates

• Water - volumetric rate: $1.14 per m³
• Wastewater - volumetric rate: $2.15 per m³
  • Residential wastewater usage cap of 70 m³ Bi-monthly

Billing guidelines

• The water and wastewater consumption charge is applied to all residential and non-residential property owners based on the metered volume of water used.
• Single family residential and single owner condominium units are billed based on one equivalent household unit (EHU) value for the fixed water and wastewater charge.
• Multi-family residential properties are billed based on 1/2 EHU value times each unit within the multi-unit residential dwelling. Examples of multi-family properties are apartments, duplexes, triplexes, etc.
• Campgrounds, motels, cottage courts, retirement lodges and nursing homes are billed based on the applicable EHU value times each unit:
  • Campgrounds: 0.3
  • Motel rooms: 0.2
  • Cottage courts: 0.4
  • Retirement/nursing homes: 0.2
• All other commercial properties are billed the fixed rate based on the size of the water meter that services the property.