RDN to continue water bill repayment plan despite no use during 2-year trial

Staff considers policy a big relief to residents with high water bills

RDN to continue water bill repayment plan despite no use during 2-year trial Published 10:30 am Sunday, July 12, 2026 The Regional District of Nanaimo is moving to permanently establish a flexible repayment option for residents facing unusually high water bills, even though no one used the program during its two-year pilot project. The initiative stems from a resolution adopted by the RDN board on Dec. 12, 2023, authorizing a two-year trial that allowed eligible residents with large utility bills to repay their balances over a period of up to 12 months without having the debt transferred to the Surveyor of Taxes for collection.

The trial ran from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2025. Chief Financial Officer Tiffany Moore reported no residents applied for the plan during the two years. However, staff still recommends the program become a permanent administrative policy, as it could provide valuable financial relief for homeowners who encounter unexpected water leaks or unusually high utility bills.

Under current RDN practices, unpaid water utility balances remaining at the end of the year are transferred to the Surveyor of Taxes. While the RDN itself does not charge interest on overdue utility accounts, balances transferred for tax collection begin accruing interest, increasing costs for property owners. Staff noted that the repayment option could be particularly helpful for residents who experience multiple water leaks within a five-year period.

Current board policy allows homeowners to receive a water leak adjustment only once every five years while they own the property. If a second qualifying leak occurs during that period — particularly after fall utility bills are issued — a homeowner may have less than three months to pay the full balance before it is transferred for tax collection. The repayment plan would provide another option by allowing affected residents to spread payments over as long as one year.