Decorah voters again deny forming city electric utility

Decorah voters again said no in a special election Tuesday to forming a municipal electric utility and eventually severing ties to Alliant Energy.

Unofficial results show that 1,351 voters, or nearly 54 percent, voted against taking steps to form the municipal utility while 1,169 voters, or about 46 percent, voted for it.

In 2018, Decorah voters also denied the idea of forming a city electric utility, but by only three votes after the results were recounted. The City Council decided to try again, setting Tuesday’s special election. This time, the margin against the idea grew to 182 votes.

The measure would have allowed the council to study municipalization of the city's power. The vote would be a first step in establishing a utility that would replace Alliant, which provides power to the city’s residents.

Supporters of the idea said they were committed to a clean energy future and frustrated by Alliant’s rates.