Alliant Energy Officials listen to audience comments at the Clinton hearing
Local residents lined up to speak out against a proposed Alliant Energy gas and electric rate increase at an Iowa Utility Board public hearing.
The utility company’s request is called a 25 percent increase in the base rates for gas and electric service. Company officials told the audience in the overall impact on the average residential electric bill would be 8-dollars a month in 2019 and 12 dollars in 2020 while the gas bill is expected to drop due to reduce fuel prices.
Local customer John Roach said he’s trusted the Utility Board to make sure customers are not overcharged-but this raise to too much.
Brent Hurlburt says he lives in subsidized housing on a fixed income and tries to conserve on his bills-but can’t afford these increases.
Veronica Devers says the increasing bills may drive people out of the Clinton
Connie Schmitz says she is a small business owner and works 60 or more hours a week to pay he bills and can’t afford more..
Bill Schemers – a city councilmember – said the county and city has been losing population and these rate increases are not helping the area grow.
President of Alliant Energy Terry Kouba commented that the company know’s much of the service area is rural with small towns and many lower income residents and that is all considered in rate increase requests.
Kouba also said Alliant – where company can-works to help attract and retain business
The Iowa Utility Board will be studying the rate increase request with formal hearings set for later this year before a decision is made.
