Fairview council approves electric rate increase and reviews draft water conservation plan
By Maria Ricks
Following discussions at its Sept. 29 meeting, the Fairview City Council approved an electric rate increase and reviewed a draft Water Conservation Plan. A new AQUAtraX portal is also expected to help residents monitor water use, with public access anticipated in late October or early November.
The changes are at different stages. The electricity rate increase was approved, and residents can expect to see the rate increase in their November bill. The Water Conservation Plan is still being revised and will be adopted at next month’s meeting. Residents should watch for city announcements about timing and next steps.
Electric Rates
Fairview City Power Superintendent Greg Sorenson, who has worked for Fairview City for 17 years, and as superintendent for 13 years, presented the rate proposal. After the public hearing, the council approved Ordinance 2026-07. The adjustment is intended in part to help address costs associated with the new Extended Day Ahead Market (EDAM). UAMPS reported that its average cost of power has risen 25%; that figure refers to power costs, not a 25% increase in Fairview customer rates.
| Service location | Current: first 550 kWh | Current: over 550 kWh | New: first 550 kWh | New: over 550 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Fairview city limits | 10¢/kWh | 11.5¢/kWh | 11.5¢/kWh | 12.5¢/kWh |
| Outside Fairview city limits | 10.5¢/kWh | 12¢/kWh | 12¢/kWh | 13¢/kWh |
A kilowatt-hour (kWh) measures electricity use. The change to a customer’s bill will depend on how much electricity they use and whether their service is inside or outside city limits. Council members discussed a rough estimate of about $15 more per month for an average household, but individual bills will vary.
“Nobody wants to raise rates. It’s up to you guys,” Sorenson told the council during its consideration of the proposal.
Council members said Fairview’s rates would remain among the lower rates in the area. In the comparison discussed at the meeting, Fillmore was the only city identified as having lower rates. The council did not review a detailed statewide comparison, so a broader ranking of Fairview’s rates in Utah was not established.
Water Conservation
Justin Jackson, Water and Sewer Superintendent for the past 10 years, presented a draft of the Water Conservation Plan. This year’s dry conditions showed how vulnerable Fairview’s water supply can be.
During the council discussion, officials said the city’s available supply had fallen to about 67% of normal and remained below the plan’s 75% Level 2 threshold after late July. Two of Fairview’s three springs had gone dry, while one well was producing about 33 gallons per minute, compared with a statistical average of roughly 70. That left one spring and one well carrying most of the system’s demand.
Jackson said the well’s water level came within about 10 feet of the point where pumping could risk cavitation and serious equipment damage. He described briefly drawing the well down to 215 feet in the past, while this summer’s drawdown reached about 205 feet.
“There’s definitely a lot of things to be discussed here,” he told the council as members considered adding well-drawdown thresholds to the plan.
Jackson also cautioned that rain does not immediately restore drinking-water sources: runoff may help surface conditions, but it can take months for water to travel through the mountain to the sources the city uses. He noted that several average years may be needed to replenish what has been drawn down.
That makes planning for next year important. Council members discussed the possibility of another dry year; Jackson said that if the city received no snow, it could begin the year at Level 3 restrictions. The revised plan is meant to clarify when conservation measures should intensify, including when water levels pose a risk to wells and pumps.
“If the city can’t cut back, you’re not going to get anybody else to either,” Jackson said, emphasizing the city’s role in setting an example. The plan is still being revised and has not been adopted. Jackson is expected to circulate an updated draft for council review, with the city required to submit its plan to the state by December 31, according to the meeting discussion.
AQUAtraX
Fairview’s upcoming AQUAtraX portal is designed to help residents understand and manage their water use. Expected to launch in late October or early November, it will let users view their historical consumption and compare it with current use.
That comparison can help residents spot an unexpected increase sooner, consider what may have caused it—such as a hose or irrigation system left running—and check whether their usage returns to normal. The system can also provide notifications if a meter registers a leak alarm, giving residents a chance to investigate and address a possible problem.
“It’ll create a portal where, like with Enbridge Gas, you can get in and see what your usage was in the past and compare what you’re currently doing,” Water and Sewer Superintendent Justin Jackson said. The goal is to give residents more useful information to track their own consumption and respond to potential issues.
That comparison can help residents spot an unexpected increase sooner, consider what may have caused it—such as a hose or irrigation system left running—and check whether their usage returns to normal. The system can also provide notifications if a meter registers a leak alarm, giving residents a chance to investigate and address a possible problem.
The council’s discussion reflects a shared goal: keeping residents informed while planning for reliable utilities and responsible use of local resources.