BOONE – Alliant Energy is making plans to be more energy-efficient and lower customers’ bills, but in the meantime, it has to increase the base rate for thousands of customers that use the company to keep the lights on.
In Boone, dozens of residents in the area commented on social media, upset with a 25 percent hike in their bills. Some said that they would have to use a Go Fund Me page to pay for the increase.
Local 5 On Your Side called Alliant Energy to find out the reasoning behind the rate increase, and to ask how customers could voice their concerns. Here’s what a representative told our station:
1. The rate increase explained in a notice to customers was part one of a two-part program to increase the rates on Alliant Energy customers.
2. The purpose of the increase in the base rate on customers’ bills is to pay for forward-thinking projects like wind energy that will eventually lower customers’ bills.
3. The first rate increase goes into effect on April 1. For someone who has an average bill of $115, you’d see about an $8 increase a month.
4. According to Alliant, what customers are not seeing on this notice is that other parts of their bill, like a transmission cost or fuel costs, are going down.
5. The second rate increase will come in January 2020, and that will be about $12 a month.
Customers who want to voice their opinion about these changes can do so in a series of meetings.
Creston: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at Southwest Community College, Performing Art Center, 1501 W. Townline St.
Marshalltown: 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at Iowa Valley Education Center, 3702 S. Center St.
Storm Lake: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Buena Vista University, Science Center, 610 W. Fourth St.
Mason City: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 2, at the Historic Park Inn, 7 W. State St.
Decorah: 6 p.m. Thursday, May 2, in the Hotel Winneshiek, 104 E. Water St.
Ottumwa: 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 8, at the Bridge View Center, 102 Church St.
West Burlington: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Southeastern Community College, Building 300, 1500 W. Agency Road.
Clinton: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, at Clinton Community College, Tech Center, 1951 Manufacturing Drive.
Dubuque: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at the Hotel Julien, 200 Main St.
Cedar Rapids: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at Kirkwood Community College, Main Campus, Iowa Hall, 6301 Kirkwood Boulevard S.W.
