With so much snow blanketing the region this winter, many snow removal contracts are expiring.
Many companies offer snow removal service up to 250 cm of snow - Ottawa passed that mark last month.
The extra costs, however, don't bother all customers paying for the service.
"What can you expect? If we had to shovel it ourselves, I don't know where we would have been," Debbie Gerro told CTV News.
Snow storms bring extra work
But even with the extra charge, the snowy winter isn't welcomed by all snow removal employees.
"This is literally like three winters of snowplowing all shoved into one," said Paul Cudahy of Skyhigh Snow Removal.
On big snow days, Cudahy often starts work at 2 a.m. He says the frequent snow has caused some of his equipment to start breaking and some of his workers are now calling it quits.
"Guys are finding that it's more attractive to stay home on unemployment than come to work and work for a wage because there's just so much work," said Cudahy.
Not all companies cashing in
Other companies that offer snow removal service for a flat seasonal rate are not cashing in on the heavy snowfall.
Jake Ryan of Dean Ryan's Snow Removal says his company has had a lot of breakdowns and a $300 flat snow removal rate just doesn't cover the extra costs.
With a report from CTV's Joanne Schnurr
