Iowa: Speak Out Against Proposed Interstate Power & Light (aka Alliant Energy) Rate Increase
RPU-04-1 Interstate Power and Light Company (aka Alliant Energy)
The Iowa Utilities Board has scheduled a tenth public customer comment
hearing to be held today, June 10, in Spirit Lake. Written
comments from customers are being accepted via an on-line customer comment form or by snail mail addressed to: Executive Secretary, 350 Maple Street, Des Moines, IA 50319-0069. When filing comments by mail, please refer to the Alliant Rate Proceeding (Docket No. RPU-04-1).
More information about this rate proceeding, including a table
detailing dates, times and locations of public comment hearings may be
found on the RPU-04-1 information page.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kalona officials express concerns to Iowa Utilities Board
KalonaNews.com
“I just
don't understand how my monthly draw at home could be $250 per month,
when over in Wellman, the bill for the same size home would be about
$180 per month.”
“And
furthermore…I don't see how a grocery store in Kalona pays $18,000
per year in electric bills …when a grocery store just seven miles
down the road only pays $10,000 per year for approximately the same
amount of electricity.”
This
from Steve Reif, Kalona city councilman and owner-operator of Reif's
Family Center, who represented several Kalona businesses and residents
at a special Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) hearing last Thursday in Cedar
Rapids.
The
regional hearing was one of several conducted by the IUB across the
state to receive public comment about a proposed rate increase by
Alliant Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iowa Light and Power
Company (IPL). The hearings will assist utility board members to
determine whether or not Alliant should be allowed to collect an
additional $149 million in revenue through rate increases across its
Iowa service territory, as required by Iowa law. All comments were put
to record by an official “court reporter,” and will be reviewed by the
three-member Iowa Utilities Board.
(more)
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And from Blog for Iowa on June 5th, the best argument I've heard against the rate increase:
Alliant Energy Needs To Invest in Iowa Rather Than Use Iowa As An Investment
This
Letter to the Editor appeared in the Ottumwa Courier. It was
written by Larry Wilkinson, an Economic Development Specialist from
Centerville, Iowa.
. . . I
am sending this letter at this time because Alliant Energy, the parent
organization of Interstate Power & Light, has come again before the
Iowa Utility Board seeking an electric rate increase. My desire is to
introduce my perception of a fundamental flaw in the regulatory
treatment of customers who are served by Investor Owned Utility
Companies in Iowa,
companies
like Alliant Energy operating as Interstate Power & Light. The
regulatory flaw serves the investor owned utilities at the expense of
the regulated customers.
(more)
Blog For Iowa 
I know this is off topic but I am just so excited about the implications of Ken Veenstra's defeat. There was no Iowa Republican I was more anxious to see leave the Iowa Senate.
Tuesday of this week, incubment Iowa Senate Republican Ken Veenstra was soundly defeated by a moderate Republican. Several things makes this particularly noteworthy and pershaps indicative of a shifting tide in the public attitudes.
Veenstra was best known in the past session for authoring the proposed anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment, which was defeated in the Iowa Senate with five Republicans joining the Democratic minority to defeat it.
During the session Veenstra attacked gays and lesbians viciously and received considerable publicity. Veenstra is also well known for his lack of support of public education and promotion of private schools.
Aside from a conservative incumbent getting defeated which is in itself newsworthy, is that Veenstra's district is considered among the most conservative in Iowa with a population that is largely comprised of a very conservative religious element. Veenstra lost by a 8% point margin.
Political pundits in Iowa, who predicted an easy Veenstra win are reeling at Veenstra's loss. Could it be the attacks on gays and lesbians is creating a substantial voter backlash, even among religious conservative Republicans? Perhaps the wedge issue to Repugs are so eager to push has two edges to it.
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You beat me to the punch, Darrell! Veenstra's district is near here, and I've been prepping an article about this very thing. Tried all day long to get ahold of someone on the ground here who might have a handle on what happened. Trying to get the inside scoop! I can hardly believe it either. I always thought of Veenstra as the legislative leader of Team Homophobe. Would that this had something to do with it. You know, I believe Veenstra's district was redrawn and I wonder if that had something to do with it. Will report what I find, you can count on that! (And then he was such a poor sport about it, too.)
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