Flood

North Niagara residents are receiving huge hydro bills as a result of cleanup efforts from recent flooding.

After historic flooding in July and August, households ran industrial-sized dehumidifiers, powerful fans, sump pumps and other equipment to dry their homes. That devoured vast amounts of electricity, and now many residents are getting hydro bill sticker shock.

Coun. Kevin Townsend said he's received "a lot" of phone calls from residents whose hydro bills have tripled or quadrupled.

"I had one senior call me in tears," he told Monday's City of St. Catherines Council meeting, which dealt with flooding issues.

"Her bill went up to $360. Her bill was usually between $50 and $80 a month," Townsend said, adding that the woman would struggle to pay it.

City asks energy board for flood relief

Council unanimously backed Townsend's resolution calling for the Ontario Energy Board to provide flood relief for residents who can demonstrate a substantial increase in hydro usage due to flooding.

The resolution asked the energy board to work with local hydro utilities to identify a way to provide relief.

Elevated hydro charges were incurred through no fault of households already facing substantial costs to repair their homes, the resolution noted.

City officials hope the province will provide financial relief for millions in flood-related costs.

The city is preparing a claim under the provincial Municipal Disaster Assistance Program, according to a report to council.

That program helps municipalities recover from "extraordinary" costs after a natural disaster, the province says.

That claim is due by Nov. 18, the report said.

The city paid $1.2 million for enhanced collection of flood-ruined household items at the curb, and will pay about the same amount for emergency repairs to stabilize a slope in Port Dalhousie, the report noted.

In August, the city diverted $20 million from different program accounts to a new Emergency Flood Alleviation Program designed to reimburse eligible homeowners for 90 per cent of the cost (up to $5,000) of eligible flood protection devices, such as backflow valves that stop sewage from backing up into homes.

That was necessary because since the storms the city has received more than 3,500 applications through its flood alleviation program. The program previously supported about 30 applicants a year, with an annual budget of $150,000, the city said.

At Monday's meeting, city council approved terms of reference for an expert panel to study the recent flooding and develop an action plan. Staff can now begin recruiting experts to join it.

"That process is moving forward as quickly as we can move it forward," St. Catharines Mayor Mat Siscoe said.

Failed retaining wall threatened Dalhousie House

Council also approved more than $600,00 of $1.2 million needed to stabilize a slope in Port Dalhousie.

The work is needed to address a catastrophic failure of a retaining wall on Canal Street, according to a report by Chris Anders, manager of linear infrastructure operations for the city.

Some homes had to be evacuated, and the retaining wall risked falling into historic Dalhousie House, he said.

Staff will be meeting with people affected by the evacuations to inform them of the next steps, Anders said.