Letter to the Editor: Municipal electric utility would lead to lower, not higher, electric rates

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Jim Dale of Decorah):

"In 2013 my wife, Barbara, and I gave ourselves solar panels for Christmas and birthday gifts. Three local installers gave competitive bids. Government programs were encouraging Americans to produce more sustainable power to decrease our dependence on foreign oil and destructive fossil fuels. This would also help electric companies to not build more polluting power plants. We stayed on the grid. Alliant was helpful and installed a net (reversible) meter. We pay them a monthly cost for line, grid delivery, billing, etc. They do not pay for any over production but they do credit us for when we under produce and need it back.  Our first year cost for these services was less than $140. The savings went to pay down our loan. Now, 5 years later, our investment is paid back. Our panels are warrantied for 25 years and we look forward to 20 years of very inexpensive energy costs. A gift that keeps on giving.  It seems like a no-brainer.

Like our investment in our own little power plant, for the future of Decorah, I have decided to vote "Yes" on May 1st for a Municipal Utility.  Here are a few thoughts why.
               
--Alliant ads have run in the local media featuring some of their fine staff. They are mostly maintenance folks who keep our lines functioning. Those jobs will stay here regardless. Most of the jobs that will come back will be management jobs that are now in Madison, Dubuque or Cedar Rapids. While Alliant may wish to move their people elsewhere they might be the most likely to be hired in the new system for their already knowledge and experience. There might even be more options for participatory decision making. (In fact, could we revive that abandoned building at Water and Court Streets?)
          
--Alliant's ads say they are a "leader" in the field of advancing technology, especially wind and solar. As proof they have "plans" to be 30 percent wind by 2020 and have built a solar field "in Dubuque". The other major investor owned company serving Iowa, Mid America, already is 30 percent wind and Decorah already has more solar than the Dubuque solar field. When a group of folks in Decorah proposed building a solar field here, Alliant turned it down. Decorah is a community with an intelligent vision of the future.   A municipal utility run by Decorah will be technologically ahead of Alliant.

--I recently read an editorial by an Alliant Vice President in the DM Register supporting Senate file 2311 a bill to rewrite Iowa's utility laws. This bill allows utilities to destroy the rebate program for energy efficiencies. (A program that has saved Iowans $400 billion in utility costs since 1991 or $2 for every $1 spent). This bill allows utility companies to raise prices without Iowa Utility Board approval. It also removes incentives for sustainable energies such as wind and solar and allows utilities to charge extra for solar customers. The Legacy Foundation estimates a loss to Iowa of 20,000 energy efficient jobs and 800 solar jobs. Even companies like Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Apple, who have brought many jobs to Iowa in recent years, oppose this bill. The Alliant Vice President argued it would benefit Iowans by allowing utility companies more "flexibility." Is this word is a euphemism for "profits?" Is this really being a "leader" in renewable energy?

Over the years we have faithfully paid our electric bills knowing some of it goes toward the cost of replacement and repair of the infrastructure. Alliant has already raised our rates to help pay for a new gas plant "in Marshalltown". Though we are paying for that facility, when it is paid for we won't own it. Corporate stockholders earn benefits according to the value of the company so stock holders will gain dividends for their increased value of company and stock. If Decorah votes to go municipal we will be buying back our own system, or what we already paid for. It is the difference between renting and owning. We will be the stockholders. The benefits will be ours.

There are times when it is better to rent and let the landlord do the work of upkeep. But don't fool yourself the renter still pays in their rent. When we are going to be here for a long time (and I think Decorah is here to stay) we have much to gain by owning. Most of us want to own our own homes and make our own decisions and build up our own equity to leave to our children. That's why I had solar panels installed. Not only have they cut my costs but they make my foot print more carbon free. They increase my equity. They leave my children a better future. They make that future mine. A municipal power company can do the same thing for Decorah.

Recently I received another slick Alliant mailing promoting a "no" vote. It suggested a "yes" vote would cost me a 30 percent increase in my utility costs. The truth appears to be the exact opposite."