Stettler town council has upheld a $7.73 utility late penalty after a resident argued an electronic bill was mistakenly filtered into their junk mail folder.
Meeting on July 21, council followed administration’s recommendation to maintain the charge, pointing to municipal bylaws for the consumer’s liability to pay regardless of delivery issues.
In a letter to the council, the account holder explained they missed the July 3 payment deadline because the digital bill never appeared in their main inbox.
They also raised concerns about communication on municipal billing policies, stating they were unaware of a $1.75 paper billing fee or an exemption allowing residents born in or before 1965 to continue receiving physical copies without the added charge.
The request for a refund led to a council discussion around the best way to inform the public for utility bills changes.
The town administration defended the fee, pointing to communication efforts from November 2025 through February 2026 that showed the policy change and senior exemption on social media, the Town Life winter magazine and municipal newsletters.
Under the Town of Stettler’s bylaw, penalties are automatically applied to balances unpaid 25 days after they are issued.
Author: Landin Chambers
Landin Chambers is a news reporter for Hometown Media Stettler. He has a background in broadcast news, with previous roles in Prince George, Red Deer and Calgary. You may also see him as a cameraman for the Stettler Wildcats and Stettler Imperials. Have a story idea? Email: lchambers@htproductionsmedia.ca
