(Spirit Lake)– A public hearing hosted by the Iowa Utility Board on a 14 percent increase in rates requested by Alliant Energy drew a crowd of more than 50 people to the Dickinson county courthouse Wednesday afternoon.
Tom Aller, President of Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light, told the crowd the request is a result of the company’s efforts to meet new air emissions standards at a generating plant near Lansing, in northeast Iowa, and to enhance its portfolio of renewable energy projects, along with updating its distribution system to increase reliability.
Many who spoke at Wednesday’s hearing sounded off over cheaper rates offered by other electric utilities in the surrounding areas. Others expressed concern over the impact the 14 percent increase would have on economic development and those on fixed incomes.
Jack Dwyer, a representative of the Office of Consumer Advocate through the State’s Attorney General Office was also on hand for Wednesday’s hearing. He told the crowd that eventually other electric utility providers will more than likely be forced to seek rate increases as well. Dwyer says those companies, like Alliant, will also have to meet new federal emissions standards…which won’t be a cheap thing to do.
The hearing in Spirit Lake was the third in a series the Iowa Utilities Board is holding throughout Alliant’s service territory in Iowa. Other hearings are scheduled for Mason City, Newton, Osceola, Fort Madison and Ottumwa.
Darrell Hanson, a commissioner with the Iowa Utility Board, told the crowd he expects the board will make a final ruling on Alliant’s rate increase request sometime in January, 2011.
