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Manti council adopts fee schedule; moves to raise electric and base water rates
Summary
The Manti City Council approved a revised fee schedule effective July 1 that includes a recommended 5% increase to electric usage rates (from 11.55¢ to 12.12¢ per kWh) and a $2 bump to the monthly base water charge (from $33 to $35); tiered water rates and some water‑impact fees were left for further study.
The Manti City Council voted June 17 to adopt an updated fee schedule that will take effect July 1, approving several utility and service rate adjustments city staff recommended.
City Manager Jason Brown presented the package, saying wholesale power costs are projected to rise and recommending a 5% increase to the usage portion of the electric rate—raising it from 11.55¢ per kilowatt‑hour to 12.12¢—rather than a smaller increase now followed by a larger one later. Brown told the council the market is uncertain and that staff will monitor invoices monthly and return with emergency adjustments if necessary. "If you remember, UNPA cushioned the blow for us a few years ago," Brown said, describing how pooled purchasing softened earlier spikes.
Brown also proposed raising the monthly base water charge from $33 to $35 beginning July 1. He said tiered water rates (tiers 2–4) should remain unchanged for now while the RCAC study is completed; those tiered rates could be adjusted once staff receives RCAC’s recommendations. He noted new AMI meters are scheduled for training in July and will allow the city to track monthly usage and detect leaks earlier.
Council members pressed for clarity on the timing and impact of the changes. One councilor asked whether a 5% electric increase would defray an anticipated 14% wholesale cost increase; Brown said the 5% is a conservative first step, and that staff would revisit rates if market conditions change. On water, Brown explained a range of potential customer bills under the current tier structure and said the base‑rate increase is aimed at covering rising costs and future capital needs.
The council approved the fee schedule by voice vote. The motion adopted the package as presented, with staff retaining authority to bring adjustments back quickly if the market or RCAC findings warrant further change.
The vote summary recorded in the meeting minutes indicated voice approval with no recorded opposition on the floor. The city will implement the base water charge increase and the new electric usage rate on the schedule announced; tier changes and some commercial/industrial water‑share parameters will be revisited after the RCAC study.
