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Davis Weber County Canal Company outlines metering, data-driven plan for secondary-water tiered rates
Summary
The Davis Weber County Canal Company told the South Weber City Council it has spent about $20 million installing secondary-water meters and will use collected usage data to set future tiered rates to meet newly referenced state requirements; staff flagged remaining meter installations and grant/loan funding details.
Rick Smith, general manager of the Davis Weber County Canal Company, and consultant Fred Philpott of Lewis Robertson (public finance advisers, LRB) updated the council on secondary‑water metering and proposed rate adjustments.
Smith said the company has invested heavily in metering and is continuing installations: “We spent over $20,000,000 in 3 years, putting in thousands per year,” and reported 2,500–3,000 meters remain to be installed before next October. Philpott summarized the background study from 2022 that led to prior rate changes capped at 25% and described legislative changes the presenters read aloud during the update (presented in the transcript as “HB 2 42” and later “HB 2 74”) that require metering and a tiered rate structure.
Philpott said metering data will allow the district to move from lot‑size fee structures toward usage‑based rates. “Once that metering data continues, you collect the metering data, it allows for a more in‑depth analysis of actual usage,” he said, describing options being discussed with neighboring entities regarding lot size, usage, and potential water budgets.
Smith explained funding sources for the metering program: multiple state grant/loan packages were used, with the first two grants described as 70% grant/30% match and a third described as a 65% grant; remaining costs were addressed with low‑interest loans. The presenters said invoice timing is planned so bills would be sent in February to allow payment before the next water season.
Why it matters: the move to usage‑based tiered rates—triggered by state action and confirmed in the presentation—will change how secondary‑water customers are billed and is intended to support conservation goals tied to the metering program.
Next steps: presenters said they will complete meter installations, continue to collect data, and return with updated rate recommendations intended to be in effect with future billing cycles once analyses are complete.
