(Spirit Lake)– A 9.6 percent rate increase being sought by Alliant Energy is generating opposition from the city of Spirit Lake.
Councilman Pat McNorton says the city’s Utility Commission is firing off a letter to the Iowa Utility Board urging it to deny the increase. McNorton says Alliant Energy customers already pay the highest electric rates in the region. He’s concerned over the impact it will have on economic development and efforts to bring more people into the area. McNorton says they’re encouraging residents to write letters as well.
John Ruff, a spokesman for Alliant Energy, tells KUOO news this would be the first rate increase in some seven to 15 years…depending on what part of Alliant’s service territory you’re in. He says the additional revenue is needed to offset recent and future investments to increase capacity to keep up with demand.
The Iowa Utilities Board will consider the proposed rate hike over the next 10 months or so. In the meantime, Ruff says Alliant will implement a two to three percent interim rate increase in late June or early July of this year.
