What You Need to Know About Guelph’s New Water Billing
As we roll into the end of May, I’m sure many of you are getting your gardens ready or planning those first summer trips. Living in The Ward, I’ve been enjoying the historical character of our neighbourhood as it wakes up for spring. But while we’re looking forward to June, there’s a practical change coming to our mailboxes (and inboxes) that every Guelphite needs to have on their radar.
Starting June 2026, the City of Guelph is taking over the billing for water, wastewater, and stormwater services.
For years, we’ve been used to seeing our water and electricity bundled together on one bill from Alectra Utilities (formerly Guelph Hydro). That’s officially changing. Here is the “down-to-earth” breakdown of what this means for you.
One Bill Becomes Two
Starting next month, the “stream” is splitting. You will now receive:
- An Electricity Bill from Alectra Utilities: This will cover your power usage only.
- A Water Bill from the City of Guelph: This will cover your water, wastewater, and stormwater charges.
Whether you’re in a classic 60′ lot in General Hospital, a townhome in Onward Willow, or a condo downtown, this change affects most residential and commercial properties in the city. You will notice I mentioned most properties, certain Condominiums that have water billed to the corporation won’t receive a bill directly.
New Account Numbers & Pre-Authorized Payments
When your first City water bill arrives in June, it will come with a brand-new account number. This is the most important piece of info you’ll need to keep things running smoothly.
If you are a fan of “setting it and forgetting it”, I highly recommend setting up Pre-Authorized Payments (PAP). Even if you had automatic payments set up with Alectra, they will not transfer over for your water.
- Action Item: Visit guelph.ca/waterbill to register for the new portal.
- Why do it? It’s the best way to ensure you never miss a payment, especially if you’re away traveling or hitting the links at Guelph Lakes Golf and CC.
Why the Change?
This transition follows Alectra’s decision to stop billing for municipal water utilities across several regions. The good news? Your actual water service remains exactly the same, safe, clean, and reliable. The City is simply bringing the administration “in-house,” similar to how they handle property taxes.
Michael’s Insight
As someone who advocates for local housing supply and supply-chain improvements, I appreciate when our municipal systems modernize. It provides better transparency on where our utility dollars are going. Plus, the new City portal will allow you to navigate between your property tax and water accounts in one spot, a win for organization!
A quick heads-up: If you’re currently on an “Equal Payment Plan” with Alectra, that will now only apply to your electricity. The City of Guelph hasn’t announced if they will be offering equal payment plans for water at this time, so your monthly water bill will likely fluctuate based on your actual usage (keep that in mind if you’re going to wash your car every day or water a large lawn this summer!).
If you have questions about how this affects your property value or if you’re looking to move into a new Guelph neighbourhood this summer, I’m always here to chat.
Stay hydrated, Guelph!
Michael Bennett – Guelph Real Estate Professional Royal LePage Royal City Realty
Quick Tip: Watch for an official transition letter in your mail soon, it contains the final instructions for the June switch-over!
