The case for voting "No"

Alliant Energy representatives say a 'No' vote on Tuesday will mean staying with a utility which has a proven track record in serving Decorah.

Alliant Energy Regional Director Matt Cole says the utility "is fighting really hard" to continue to serve Decorah.  He says Alliant employees not only work here, they live here and have built a dependable, reliable electric system.  "You know what you have," he tells decorahnews.com.

Cole says the 17 Alliant Energy employees living in Decorah have a combined 356 years of experience.  When there's an interruption in service, a dedicated call center and dispatch center is there to answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  What's more, he says, the employees who respond "know the system very well" and can shut off power in just the right location without disrupting electricity nearby.

Cole also says repairs are made quickly now.  Spare switches and transformers are stocked in Decorah, while major components are two hours away in Dubuque or Cedar Rapids.  He says an inventory of those parts will be another cost for a municipal electric utility if Decorah starts such a utility.

The Alliant Energy feasibility study of a municipal electric utility can be found on the City of Decorah's website, www.decorahia.org.