Alliant Energy's intention to ask for higher gas and electric rates dates back to at least last December

During last spring's municipal electric utility election campaign in Decorah, Alliant Energy hired a consultant who concluded, "Electric customers in Decorah could face rates approximately 30 percent higher than Alliant Energy charges if the city moved to a municipal utility rather than staying with Alliant Energy."  (http://www.decorahnews.com/archived-stories/2018/03/18856.html).

Alliant and the consultant later backed off that prediction somewhat, but kept contending electric rates would be higher if customers abandoned Alliant.

On March 6th, the utility filed a petition with the Iowa Utilities Board for permission to increase rates.  Under the proposal, the average residential customer would see a 24.45 percent rate increase.

Supporters of Decorah Power, the group which campaigned in favor of the municipal electric utility, have been questioning how long Alliant Energy knew it would be asking for permission to increase its rates.

The rate increase application was filed three weeks ago, but decorahnews.com has learned Alliant filed a notice with the Iowa Utilities Board three months ago--on December 21st, 2018--that it intended to ask for a rate increase, effective in 2020.  The filing with the IUB says Alliant was "preparing to file an application for increased retail electric and natural gas rates, pursuant to Iowa Code § 476.6, to reflect the costs and benefits of the investments (Alliant) has made for its customers and communities since its last rate case."

The December filing also said the utility wanted to be granted a rate increase based on future projections of costs, instead of actual figures about recent costs.  The Iowa Legislature has changed state law to allow such "forward looking" accounting.

The December 21st of 2018 filing is still nine months after Alliant first began stating Decorah electrical rates would be 30 percent higher with a municipal utility than they would be with Alliant, but previously it was believed Alliant knew about wanting higher electricity rates one year after the Decorah Power campaign began in Decorah.