Public meetings set for natural gas service rates

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) encourages customers of Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light Co. (Alliant/IPL) to attend one of four scheduled public meetings regarding the utility's request to increase its natural gas service rates in Iowa.

These public meetings provide an opportunity for customers to offer comments and ask questions directly to representatives of the IUB, Alliant/IPL, and the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA). The OCA represents the general interests of consumers in all IUB proceedings.

The public comment meetings will all begin at 5:30 p.m. as follows:

• July 10, 2012 - North Iowa Community College, Muse-Norris Conference Center, 500 College Drive, Mason City.
• July 12, 2012 - Mount Pleasant Civic Center (2nd Floor), 307 E. Monroe, Mount Pleasant.
• July 17, 2012 - Clinton Community College, Auditorium, 1000 Lincoln Boulevard, Clinton.
• July 19, 2012 - Fisher Community Center, 709 South Center Street, Marshalltown.

On May 25,  Alliant/IPL filed a request proposing to increase its natural gas service rates in Iowa. The proposed increase would generate about $14.8 million in additional annual revenue (5.6 percent increase).

Under Iowa law, a temporary revenue increase of $8.6 million (3.3 percent), which did not require pre-approval from the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), went into effect on June 4, 2012. If the Board establishes final rates that are less than those temporary rates, the difference collected by Alliant/IPL will be refunded to customers, with interest.

The Board's final decision in this case is anticipated by March 25, 2013, and the IUB is accepting written comments for the duration of the case.

To send written comments, consumers may send an email to customer@iub.iowa.gov, access the electronic comment form at iub.iowa.gov, or mail comments to the Iowa Utilities Board, Executive Secretary, Docket No. RPU-2012-0002, 1375 E. Court Avenue, Rm. 69, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069.