Snow removal prices going up this winter

After last year'sunbelievable winter on P.E.I., the price of snow removal is going up this season.

Businesses that clearyour driveway and plow parking lots arechargingmore, since they are spending longer hours on the job.

"The price of fuel, wages, the wear and tear and so it's an expensive business just to operate," said Nathan MacDonald of Twins Snow Removal. "After 'x' amount of trips, it's hard to make any money at all at it."

The cost of operation went up through the roof.- Rodney Chappell, snow plow operator

Last year,the Island wasburied under more than 550 cm of snow, and the winter before was bad as well.

Plow operators are booking their contracts with home owners nowfor the upcoming winter. Customers pay a flat rate for the season.

CBC News spoke to a half-dozen snow removal firms, and all of them were increasing rates this year.

The increase depends on how big the driveway is, and how early the service starts.

Individual customers should be looking at increases of between $25 and $80 over the course of the winter, or in the range of $400 to $450 for a priority driveway.

Another reason for the rise in prices is the wear on equipment.

"The cost of operation went up through the roof," said Rodney Chappell of Riley's Snow Removal. "We had a lot of damaged fenders, one small part costs $500."

Nathan MacDonald hasn't had much difficultyexplaining the increase to his customers. "Most people understand and realize once they look at the big picture," he said.

That big picture included many homes having to get plowed out more than 50 times last winter.