Former intern to become Alliant’s Iowa president

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Alliant Energy board has appointed Mayuri “May” Farlinger as president of the utility’s Iowa energy company, effective May 1.

Farlinger, who started her Alliant career as an intern in 2004, also will be vice president of operations. She succeeds Terry Kouba, who is retiring.

"May is an outstanding leader, and I am confident she and her team will continue to meet and exceed the expectations of our customers and communities across Iowa,” Lisa Barton, president and CEO of Alliant Energy, said in a news release.

“Throughout her tenure, May has brought a solution-oriented approach that will serve her well as she leads the company to its next chapter of growth.”

Most recently, Farlinger has been the utility’s vice president of customer and community engagement in Iowa. She has held previous positions in a number of Alliant departments, including finance, audit, regulatory, account management, field engineering, customer renewables, revenue management and operations.

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John Larsen, Alliant’s executive chairman, praised Kouba’s 42 years of service with the utility, saying his longevity “is a testament to his passion and commitment to serving customers and communities across the state of Iowa. His empowering leadership style, experience and focus on operational excellence has served our customers well.”

As the company’s Iowa president, Farlinger will have overall accountability for the utility’s performance, including responsibility for growing Alliant Energy’s customer base in Iowa.

That includes leading the company’s economic development, community engagement and account management groups, the company stated. She also will continue to direct and provide leadership for regulatory activities and initiatives supporting electric and natural gas customers in Iowa.

Farlinger’s promotion comes as Cedar Rapids-based Interstate Power & Light is asking the Iowa Utilities Board to approve a 13.4 percent electric rate increase and a 5 percent gas rate hike. The increase is needed, the company says, to upgrade its grid and continue adding solar and wind energy sources.

Farlinger serves as a board member with the United Way of East Central Iowa, Indian Creek Nature Center and Corridor Women Connect. She earned her bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Iowa and her MBA at St. Ambrose University in Davenport.

Alliant Energy Corp. provides energy service to 995,000 electric and 425,000 natural gas customers in Iowa and Wisconsin. Alliant Energy’s two public energy companies are Interstate Power and Light Co. and Wisconsin Power and Light Co.