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Davis Weber County Canal Company outlines rate changes; council presses for fairness across user tiers
Summary
Representatives from the Davis Weber County Canal Company told Clinton City Council they plan targeted secondary‑water rate adjustments focused on larger lot tiers to reflect metering and capital costs and to comply with 2025 legislative requirements; council members questioned whether increases could be distributed more evenly across brackets.
Representatives from the Davis Weber County Canal Company briefed the Clinton City Council Aug. 26 on a proposed update to secondary‑water rate schedules that shifts increases toward larger‑lot user tiers.
Rick Smith (company) introduced the presentation and said the company and board want to manage rates responsibly while reflecting revised demand and capital needs. Fred Philpotts (presenting online) explained the firm’s modeling and that, after a 25% cap applied during a prior update, the current analysis shows the largest changes are associated with larger lots (roughly 1.25 acres and above) because they use more water and impose greater variable costs.
The company noted substantial metering and capital activity: state grant funding supported an aggressive metering program, and staff said meter and project work has totaled millions in recent years. Philpotts said the firm has sought to limit sudden, large increases by capping prior jumps and planning more frequent, smaller updates. He described the move toward meter‑driven, tiered rates required by recent legislation and the goal of being prepared to implement usage‑based tiers as meter data becomes comprehensive.
Council members raised equity concerns. One council member said the proposed changes effectively shift a larger share of costs onto a few higher‑usage brackets and asked why all users could not share increases more evenly. "I'm disappointed at how you're billing it," the mayor said, pressing for an approach that spreads burden more broadly. Company representatives responded that modeling and meter data drove the results and that the approach aims to avoid smaller connections subsidizing high‑usage properties; they also said staff will continue to refine the table and that future tiered rates intended for conservation might reduce bills for low‑usage customers when implemented.
What happens next: Company presenters said the updated schedule would be implemented in the company’s next fiscal year billing cycle so that adjustments appear in November billings; they also said they will continue analysis and report back as the meter project completes. Councilmembers said they expect more public explanation of how tiers and meter data will affect average households prior to implementation.
