(Spirit Lake)– Customers of Alliant Energy will have an opportunity to comment on the utility’s request to raise electric rates at a hearing the Iowa Utilities Board will be hosting next week in Spirit Lake.
Scott Jones, Regional Director for Alliant Energy, says the utility is proposing a 14 percent rate increase, including an 11.7 percent interim hike that took affect March 20th.
Jones says several factors led to the request to increase rates including a 468 million dollar wind farm producing about 200 megawatts of power; compliance with new clean air standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; and replacement of aging equipment to improve system reliability.
As far as the future goes, Jones says energy costs will be going up even more. He says industrial and other customers should assume about a four to five percent increase in energy prices on an annual basis.
The Iowa Utilities Board public hearing on Alliant Energy’s proposed increase will be held Wednesday, April 14th at 1:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Dickinson County Courthouse in Spirit Lake.
It’s one of several hearings the IUB is holding in Alliant Energy’s service territories around the state.
