Robin H.

Just a person trying to hold commissions accountable.

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

@yegwave

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

EPCOR, where are you? Why didn’t you install a proper sized culvert here three years ago? #EPCOR

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

@ctvedmonton 137 avenue in Edmonton Alberta!

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

@ctvedmonton Update: it’s officially eroding 137th Ave.

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

@EPCOR What’s the plan to replace the undersized culvert that caused this to happen?

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

This was not an unforeseeable emergency. Residents raised concerns with @EPCOR years ago about erosion, drainage, the condition of the culvert and the potential risk to 137 Avenue. Those concerns were not addressed before the situation deteriorated into a full road closure.

Now families are facing lengthy detours, emergency access is a serious concern, and the community is left waiting for answers. EPCOR needs to explain what it knew, why permanent corrective work was delayed, what temporary measures are in place, and exactly when a permanent repair will be completed.

Accountability matters—especially when residents warned that this could happen.

[CTV Edmonton @ctvedmonton]

Access to emergency services a concern for residents as heavy rain damages, closes road https://t.co/OGrNnOQtSO

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

@EPCOR was warned about erosion and drainage concerns at this location years ago. The warnings were not addressed, and residents are now facing a road closure, major detours and concerns about emergency access. EPCOR needs to explain what was known, why action was delayed and when a permanent repair will be completed.

[CTV Edmonton @ctvedmonton]

Access to emergency services a concern for residents as heavy rain damages, closes road https://t.co/OGrNnOQtSO

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🚨 ARROW Utilities' debt has now reached $188.4 million as of March 31, 2026.

To finance the Train 4 expansion, the Province granted ARROW special approval to increase its borrowing limit to $240 million and its debt servicing limit to $42 million until the end of 2028.

ARROW is currently planning additional borrowing while also increasing wastewater rates and building reserves.

For comparison:

💧 2025 flow rate: $2.05/m³

💧 2026 flow rate: $2.75/m³

💧 Proposed 2027 flow rate: $2.85/m³

ARROW's own forecasts indicate it expects to be back within the normal provincial debt limit by the end of 2028, but that will depend on future borrowing, revenue growth, and capital spending.

Regional wastewater infrastructure is essential, but ratepayers deserve transparency on:

✔️ Total project costs

✔️ Long-term debt obligations

✔️ Interest costs

✔️ Future rate increases

✔️ Asset replacement funding

The question isn't whether infrastructure should be maintained—it should. The question is whether the financing strategy is sustainable and affordable for residents over the long term.

#yeg #yegregion #ARROWUtilities #Infrastructure #MunicipalFinance #DebtAndDrain

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

Another wastewater infrastructure failure impacting a local waterway. As residents continue to face rising utility costs and major capital expansions, utilities such as ARROW Utilities should be demonstrating how investments are improving system reliability and reducing environmental risks. Transparency and accountability matter. @ABEnvironment #ableg #yeg #StAlbert #BigLake

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

Another wastewater infrastructure failure impacting a local waterway. As residents continue to face rising utility costs and major capital expansions, utilities such as ARROW Utilities should be demonstrating how investments are improving system reliability and reducing environmental risks. Transparency and accountability matter. @ABEnvironment #ableg #yeg #StAlbert #BigLake

[CTV Edmonton @ctvedmonton]

High fecal bacteria levels after pipeline break prompts water advisory for Sturgeon River https://t.co/3I2XrDxwQL

[CTV Edmonton @ctvedmonton]

High fecal bacteria levels after pipeline break prompts water advisory for Sturgeon River https://t.co/3I2XrDxwQL

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

This isn’t the first major wastewater infrastructure failure in the region. In December 2022, a pipeline break near Big Lake released approximately 2 million litres of raw sewage into the environment. Residents deserve transparency on the cause of this latest failure and the condition of the regional wastewater system. #abmuni #StAlbert #yeg

[St Albert Gazette @stalbertgazette]

NEWS: Portion of Red Willow Trail closed after wastewater pipeline break https://t.co/FklOPXvyKs

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🚨 Another wastewater pipeline break involving @ARROWUtilities.

According to ARROW’s June 1, 2026 notice, a damaged wastewater forcemain near Sir Winston Churchill Ave & Kingswood Dr in St. Albert released wastewater that entered the Sturgeon River during a heavy rainfall event.

ARROW states the cause remains under investigation.

Residents deserve transparency:

• How much wastewater was released?
• What environmental impacts are expected?
• Will monitoring results be made public?
• What repairs or preventative measures will follow?

@YourAlberta’s environmental regulator should ensure a full public accounting of the incident and any impacts to the Sturgeon River.

#abwater #yeg #stalbert #environment #ABLeg @stalbertgazette

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

📉 ARROW Utilities financial update:

Recent financial statements show a sharp decline in available cash and reserves.

💰 Cash on hand dropped from $35M in 2024 to just $6M in 2025.

At the same time, reserves have been steadily depleted:

📉 Operating reserve
• $4.997M (2023)
• $1.992M (2024)
• $1.425M (2025)
📉 Capital reserve
• $18.828M (2023)
• $0 (2024)
• $0 (2025)

Meanwhile the commission continues to take on major debt tied to the Train 4 expansion.
Less cash.
No capital reserve.
More debt.

Ratepayers across 13 municipalities should be asking questions. @DanWilliamsAB @ParklandInst

#ARROWUtilities #Train4 #Wastewater #abpoli #Debt

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🚨 ARROW Utilities Update:

According to recent ARROW board minutes, the Government of Alberta rejected the commission’s request for a 30-year, $117M debenture to finance the Train 4 expansion.

The Province instead suggested a 20-year term.

Board discussions indicate the longer term was requested to improve cash availability and interest-rate certainty.

Members also discussed potential rate impacts, infrastructure costs, and repayment risks.

Train 4 financing continues to evolve — and ratepayers should be paying attention. @DanWilliamsAB

#ARROWUtilities #Train4 #Wastewater #abpoli

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🧾 Governance review underway at ARROW Utilities.

The board approved hiring EY (https://t.co/OPhYDpY4Uz) to conduct an independent governance and financial review.

Why?

According to board minutes:

• Significant infrastructure costs are driving future rate pressure
• The review will assess long-term financial planning and affordability
• Governance and decision-making processes will also be examined

For a regional utility serving 13 municipalities and over 400,000 residents, the stakes are high.

Will this review bring real transparency?

Or just another report that gathers dust?

#ARROWUtilities #Governance #Accountability

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🚨 ARROW Utilities Update:

Buried in recent board materials is a notable governance issue.

A board director @robertparks247 proposed new rules requiring:

📄 Board agendas and supporting materials be circulated at least one week in advance
⚖️ Late materials require a formal board resolution
🏛️ Municipal administrators allowed to attend meetings to support elected officials

Why propose this?
Because it suggests some board members felt they weren’t getting information early enough to properly review decisions.

For a utility responsible for $472 million in capital assets and the rates paid by hundreds of thousands of residents, governance transparency matters.

#ARROWUtilities #Governance #abpoli #Wastewater

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

ARROW Utilities governance deserves scrutiny.

Since Kate Polkovsky, formerly City of St. Albert Utilities Director, became CEO, several former City of St. Albert senior managers have joined the ARROW executive team, including Jay Mason, Cindy de Bruijn, and Aleks Cieply.

At the same time, ARROW has taken on more than $200M in new long-term debt for major wastewater expansion, costs that ultimately flow back to ratepayers across member municipalities.

Longstanding internal roles have been reshuffled, with experienced staff moved into special projects while new leadership positions were created.

This raises real questions about governance, independence, and whether expansion decisions are being driven by regional need or executive preference. Ratepayers deserve transparency and accountability before decades of debt are locked in.

📢 Where is the oversight, Board & MLAs?
@Vote_Brandon
#BrandonLunty
@NotShaneGetson
#ShaneGetson
@DaleNally_AB
#DaleNally
@MarieFrRenaud
#MarieRenaud
@ndpkyle
#KyleKasawski
@nateglubish
#NateGlubish
@DanWilliamsAB
#DanWilliams@sipiysis #BrooksArcandPaul
@KenMacKay1119
@robertparks247
📷 Media:
@ctvedmonton

@GlobalEdmonton
@CBCNews
📷@ParklandInst #abpoli #Train4 #Wastewater #ARROWUtilities #DebtCrisis #ABmuni #AccountabilityMatters

[Robin H. @DebtAndDrain]

🚨 ARROW Utilities Update:

The Board has approved proceeding with the Train 4 Plant Expansion Project through Government of Alberta debt financing, extending the loan term from 20 to 30 years.

More debt. Longer term. Same taxpayers footing the bill.

#abpoli #Train4 #Wastewater #ARROWUtilities #DebtCrisis #ABmuni #AccountabilityMatters
@Vote_Brandon
#BrandonLunty
@NotShaneGetson
#ShaneGetson
@DaleNally_AB
#DaleNally
@MarieFrRenaud
#MarieRenaud
@ndpkyle
#KyleKasawski
@nateglubish
#NateGlubish
@DanWilliamsAB
#DanWilliams @sipiysis #BrooksArcandPaul
@KenMacKay1119
@robertparks247
@ctvedmonton
@GlobalEdmonton
@CBCNews
@ParklandInst