Council adopts amendments to consolidated fee schedule; staff presents recommended 4% annual power‑rate plan

The Brigham City Council on April 16 approved an ordinance amending City Code Title V to adopt a consolidated fee schedule that includes airport, library, public works and electric utility fees. The ordinance was approved after a roll‑call vote.

Consultant Dave Berg presented the related power‑rate analysis, citing rapid projected growth and a five‑year capital improvement plan that includes multiple substation projects expected to cost millions. Berg said council should consider steady, modest increases to preserve reserve targets and pay for capital needs. “I’m recommending 4% increases every year, starting with… July 1,” Berg said, explaining that the increase would be achieved through a combination of raising the residential customer charge and adjusting energy‑block prices so that higher users pay more of the increase.

Berg and staff showed modeled bill impacts across sample summer usages (300, 600, 900, 1,200 and 1,500 kWh) and noted the first‑block increases were small while the highest consumption block would see larger cents‑per‑kWh increases. Staff said the first‑year residential customer charge would move from $10 to $12 (an example in the presentation) and that the consolidated fee schedule would include the power rate adjustments proposed in the analysis. Staff and council discussed reserve targets (a 50% reserve policy) and the interplay of impact fees, debt service and growth; staff emphasized that council would take action on rates annually — the ordinance adopts the consolidated schedule and includes the year‑one rate adjustments presented.

Council conducted a roll‑call vote on the ordinance and the motion passed. Staff said they will bring back detailed implementation dates and meter‑reading timing to set the effective date for the first year of changes.