File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Utility Rates

Kamloops water rate increase reduced from 15% to 10% for 2026

Oct 7, 2025 | 4:36 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops ratepayers will get a break on what was expected to be another major water increase next year.

In 2023, council voted to increase water rates by 63 per cent over five years — from 2024 to 2028. That included rate increases of 18 per cent in 2024, 15 per cent in both 2025 and 2026, 10 per cent in 2027 and 5 per cent in 2028.

At Tuesday’s (Oct. 7) regular council meeting, City of Kamloops staff reported the increase for 2026 can be brought down to 10 per cent.

“We had previously thought we could get to that 3 per cent (increase) in 2029 and we’re still on target for that,” said Planning and Procurement Manager Dustin Rutsatz. “We’re just able to realize some savings this year versus earlier projections.”

CFJC-TV

Kamloops born-and-raised Dylana Kneeshaw to succeed Bill O'Donovan as CFJC-TV lead anchor

Dec 13, 2025

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Boyle's supportive housing move is data-driven decision-making gone wrong

Dec 12, 2025

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 11, 2025

Dec 11, 2025

The 10 per cent increase projects to about $45 for the average household.

In addition, council voted to chop what was supposed to be a 5 per cent increase in sewer rates to just 3 per cent.

“It’s great to see we are stabilizing,” said Councillor Stephen Karpuk. “I think, when we got into this, we were looking at a history of water utilities that were zero (per cent increase) for nine straight years. That drained our bank account and reserves so we could keep it at zero but got rid of our rainy day fund and now we have a problem with other things that we have to get an [alternative approval process] to fix.”

Council is considering an alternative approval process that would authorize the city to borrow $11.75 million for necessary upgrades to the Kamloops Centre for Water Quality.