BOONE, Iowa—Boone residents got a chance to question representatives of Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light, about the companies proposed rate increases for electric and natural gas customers. The Iowa Utilities Board had ordered 10 public meetings to be held to gather input from customers. The Boone City Council invited Alliant to present information to the Council, but instead were able to schedule a public information prior to Monday’s council meeting. Boone Mayor John Slight said he was glad Alliant personnel were able to participate and he was pleased by the large turnout. Slight did say he’s sure a number of residents did not get the answers they wanted and he did encourage people to comment directly to the Iowa Utility Board because that’s where the decisions will be made.
Slight was questioned about the city’s franchise agreement with Interstate Power and Light for both electric and natural gas service. Those agreements were most recently extended in September 2014 for 25-years. He said some people would like to have other utilities available to create competition but that is prohibited under state law.
Others questioned the new meters being installed, whether shareholders had been notified about the proposed rate increase, estimated billing and much more.
Last week the Iowa Utilities Board did set the hearing dates for both proposed rate increases. Hearing dates on the electric rate increase will be October 7-9, 2019 and November 4-5, 2019 in the natural gas rate case. At that time, the IUB also indicted they were not able take action on the interim rates because state law does not allow the IUB to reduce, review or approve interim rates until the conclusion of the proceeding.
In February, the Iowa Utilities Board set a series of 10 public meetings in the rate case. The first meeting was held last week in Creston. Here are the balance of the meetings and ways to submit comments in each case:
The following public meetings are scheduled throughout Alliant’s Iowa service territory:
Marshalltown: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Iowa Valley Education Center, 3702 S. Center St.
Storm Lake: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Buena Vista University, Science Center, 610 W. Fourth St.
Mason City: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Historic Park Inn, 7 W. State St.
Decorah: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in the Hotel Winneshiek, 104 E. Water St.
Ottumwa: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the Bridge View Center, 102 Church St.
West Burlington: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Southeastern Community College, Building 300, 1500 W. Agency Road.
Clinton: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Clinton Community College, Tech Center, 1951 Manufacturing Drive.
Dubuque: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at the Hotel Julien, 200 Main St.
Cedar Rapids: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at Kirkwood Community College, Main Campus, Iowa Hall, 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard S.W.
The Board also ordered Alliant to include information about these public comment meetings in its customer notices. Additionally, the Board will arrange for remote participation for one or more of the customer comment meetings. Details about this remote option will be posted on the Board’s website at https://iub.iowa.gov once they are finalized.
Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate in a consumer comment meeting should contact the IUB at 515-725-7300 at least five days in advance of the scheduled date of a particular comment meeting to request appropriate arrangements.
Comments provided at the public meetings, or submitted in writing to the IUB, are part of the permanent record in the dockets. Customers may provide written comments regarding the proposed rate increases by completing and submitting an electronic comment form on the IUB website; by email to customer@iub.iowa.gov; or via postal mail and addressed to the Iowa Utilities Board, Chief Operations Officer, Docket No. RPU-2019-0001 or RPU-2019-0002, 1375 E. Court Ave., Des Moines, IA 50319-0069.
All publicly filed documents for these rate cases are available for review in the Board’s electronic filing system at efs.iowa.gov by searching under Docket No. RPU- 2019-0001 and RPU 2019-0002.
Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light Company, provides electric service to approximately 490,000 customers and natural gas service to approximately 220,000 customers in Iowa.
Boone residents attending a meeting with Alliant Energy personnel in Boone Monday.
