(Des Moines) – The Iowa Utilities Board is reminding customers of Alliant Energy-Interstate Power and Light Company, of eight public comment meetings scheduled by the Board starting on May 23, regarding Alliant-IPL's application for an increase in its Iowa retail electric customer rates (Docket No. RPU-2017-0001). Alliant-IPL provides electric service to approximately 490,000 customers in Iowa.
The Board issued an order on March 3 setting the dates, locations and times for the public meetings throughout Iowa, including an online webinar. At these meetings Alliant-IPL customers can express their views or ask questions about the electric rate increase and general quality of the utility company’s service to representatives of Alliant-IPL, to the Board, and to the Office of Consumer Advocate, which represents the general interests of customers in all Board proceedings.
The following public meetings are scheduled throughout Alliant-IPL’s Iowa service territory:
1.Ottumwa - Tuesday, May 23, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Bridgeview Center Conference Room, 102 Church Street.
〈The Ottumwa venue will provide an option for customers to participate in this meeting via an online webinar. Space is limited and participants can register at:
[ https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5542861697466354179 ]
〈After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. After joining, select the telephone option in order to hear the meeting audio.
〈All online commenters are required to provide a first and last name, city or town of residence, and speak clearly as all comments will be transcribed by a court reporter for the permanent record in this rate case.
〈Depending on the number of persons wishing to make public comments, a time limit for comments may be set by the Board.
〈Online participants will be notified by Board staff when it is time for them to make their comments.
〈To assure the meeting is orderly, all meeting participants will be required to comply with the Board’s meeting standards and be respectful to all persons attending the meeting or participating online.
〈Details for online registration are also available at iub.iowa.gov.
2.Osceola - Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Clarke High School Auditorium, 800 N. Jackson Street.
3.Mason City - Thursday, May 25, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Muse-Norris Conference Center on the campus of North Iowa Community College, 500 College Drive.
4.Peosta - Tuesday, May 30, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Peosta Community Centre, 7896 Burds Road.
5.Spencer - Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Spencer Area Activity Center, 104 East 4th Street.
6.Cedar Rapids -Thursday, June 1, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Iowa Hall, Rooms 316A and 316B on the campus of Kirkwood Community College, 6301 Kirkwood Blvd., SW.
7.Marshalltown - Tuesday, June 6, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at Orpheum Theatre on the campus of Iowa Valley Community College, 220 E. Main Street.
8.Fort Madison - Thursday, June 8, 2017, 5:30 p.m., at McAleer Hall, Holy Family Parish, 415 11th Street.
Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate in a consumer comment meeting should contact the Board at (515) 725-7334 at least five days in advance of the scheduled date to request that appropriate arrangements be made.
The Board is also accepting written comments in this rate case, with the most effective comments being concise and making specific points supporting or objecting to the rate request. Customers can provide comments to the Board by using this electronic comment form or send by email to customer@iub.iowa.gov or by postal mail to the Iowa Utilities Board, Chief Operations Officer, Docket No. RPU-2017-0001, 1375 E. Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069.
All publicly filed documents for this rate case are available for review in the Board's electronic filing system atefs.iowa.gov and by searching under Docket No. RPU- 2017-0001.
Alliant-IPL is requesting a permanent annual revenue increase of approximately $176 million or 11.6 percent, with a final average monthly residential bill increase of $14.26 or 12.5 percent, which will vary by customer usage. Under Iowa law, Alliant-IPL implemented a temporary rate increase on April 13, 2017, for a $9.47 or 8.3 percent residential monthly bill increase, while the Board’s decision on permanent rates are pending. The temporary rates collected are subject to refund with interest if the temporary rates are higher than final rates approved by the Board.