The Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation Project is currently underway. The project's objective is to modify the current financing structure for sanitary trunks to be compatible with EPCOR’s integrated resource planning approach while supporting The City Plan’s development growth patterns.
The project was initiated by the Fund’s Oversight Committee in 2023 and is being administered by the City. The project will involve significant engagement with the development industry, including BILD - Edmonton Metro (formerly the Urban Development Institute - Edmonton Region and the Canadian Home Builders Association), as builders and developers will be impacted by these changes. EPCOR will also play a critical role in the project.
The City administration will be bringing reports about this project to the City's Utility Committee where the public will have the opportunity to learn more about this project and provide their input. The first report is expected to go to the Utility Committee in the fourth quarter of 2024. The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025.
Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Pause on Fee Collection
Effective May 13, 2024, the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Oversight Committee has agreed to pause Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund charges for the duration of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project. This project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. The exact date will be determined by the Oversight Committee. This pause includes Expansion Assessment and Sanitary Sewer Trunk Charges (SSTC). Please see below for details.
Servicing Agreements
Any servicing agreement that was requested but was not signed before May 13, 2024 is exempt from Expansion Assessment charges.
Any servicing agreement that was signed between May 13, 2024 and May 27, 2024 and has paid the Expansion Assessment will have the Expansion Assessment refunded.
Any servicing agreement that was requested on or after May 13, 2024, until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project is exempt from Expansion Assessment charges.
Minor Development Permits
Note: references to minor development permit include home improvement permits that paid SSTC charges
Any minor development permit that was applied for on or after May 13, 2024, is exempt from SSTC charges until the end date of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project.
Minor development permits applied for between May 13, 2024, and the date the eServices website was updated to reflect the fee collection pause, will be refunded.
Major Development Permits
Any major development permit that was applied for and not approved before May 13, 2024, is exempt from SSTC charges until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project.
Any major development permit that was applied for on or after May 13, 2024, is exempt from SSTC charges, until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project.
Major development permits that were approved before May 13 and that have not yet paid Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund charges can cancel their major development permit and reapply if they wish to become eligible for the SSTC fee exemption.
A reapplication can be made until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project. However, such applications will be considered to be entirely new applications, and will therefore be required to meet all applicable new standards (such as building code) and other requirements as determined in the major development permit circulation, review and approval processes.
This Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. The exact date will be determined by the Oversight Committee.
This is summarized in the table below.
| Servicing Agreements | Major Development Permits | Minor Development Permits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executed/approved before May 13 | Pays Expansion Assessment | Pays SSTC** | Pays SSTC (paid on application) |
| Requested/applied before May 13 and not approved during the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project | No charges | No charges | Pays SSTC (paid on application) |
| Requested/applied on or after May 13 until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project | No charges | No charges | No charges |
| Executed/approved on or after May 13 until the end of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project* | No charges | No charges | No charges |
*Any servicing agreement or development permit that was approved on or after May 13, 2024 and has already paid Expansion Assessment or SSTC will be eligible for a refund.
Note: if the agreement or development permit was approved before May 13 it will not be eligible for a refund, see row one in this table.
** Major development permits that have been approved and have not yet paid Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund charges before May 13, 2024, can cancel their major development permit and reapply, until the end date of the Sanitary Servicing Strategy Fund Transformation project, if they wish to become eligible for the SSTC fee exemption.
However, such applications will be considered to be entirely new applications and will therefore be required to meet all applicable new standards (such as building code) and other requirements as determined in the major development permit circulation, review and approval processes. This transformation project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2025. The exact date will be determined by the Oversight Committee.