Letter to the Editor: Can't afford another city-run utility

(The following Letter to the Editor has been submitted by Gary and Nancy Sacquitne of Decorah):

"The City of Decorah wants to take over the electric utility. The city already has a municipal utility for water. How is that going?
 
Well, the utility is operating at a $160,000 annual loss and the city is considering raising rates 30 percent. That increase will get the city closer, but not quite, to breaking even. If you feel like the rates just went up, you'd be right. The city has raised rates in 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2008, and again in the early 2000s.
 
The water utility faces the same challenges that the city would have if they operated an electric utility: Infrastructure that ages and depreciates, large consumers leaving the area, and declining revenue due to efficiencies.

At the last city council meeting, the city council discussed removing discounts for volume on top of the early-pay discount they have already removed. Because of the city's deferred and delayed maintenance, it costs the taxpayers so much more when repairs are made or become urgent. Alliant Energy reinvests in the local grid so small problems don't become big ones.

If a flood or other catastrophic event hit Decorah, the city would be on the hook for damage to the utility. Mutual aid isn't free. We would have to pay for it and we could spend a long time paying back those communities and FEMA loans. Right now, Alliant Energy takes all that risk and, as we saw in 2008, they restore power fast and helped reduce potential damage to homes. We can't imagine how much worse reliability would be under a start-up utility.

My mother who still farms with her family just outside of Decorah on Clay Hill Road said it best, "We have been milking twice a day for over 67 years and never once did we miss a milking because of the electricity being out." They still are milking and never have had to use a generator.

Alliant has been part of this community for over 100 years. The company partners with customers and the community, offering rebates, aiding economic development, scholarships, and tree planting. Their local employees enroll their children in Decorah schools, shop in town, volunteer on the fire department and in their church. With Alliant Energy serving us, we know what we have: reliable service, stable rates, and a partner in the community.

We can't afford to have the city-run another utility, and we can't afford to stay home on May 1st. Vote 'no!'"