"Decorah Area Group" opposes the "non-unanimous settlement" in the Alliant Energy rate case

Posted: Sun, Oct 6, 2019 1:37 PM

Members of the "Decorah Area Group" opposed to Alliant Energy's rate increase request have filed an objection to the "non-unanimous, partial settlement agreement" filed Friday by Alliant Energy in their current Iowa rate case. DAG is made up of the City of Decorah, Winneshiek Energy District, Luther College, Winneshiek Medical Center, and Aase Haugen Senior Services.

The filing on Friday by the DAG states "The members of DAG believe that the majority of IPL's customers, and the communities in which they live and work, will see this Settlement as 'more of the same.' The Board should decline to engage in 'more of the same'."

Said Winneshiek Energy District Director Andy Johnson. "We could not in good conscience agree to a 'compromise' that still raises rates by double digits, puts no brakes on likely near-future increases, continues attacking customer-owned solar and energy efficiency, and gives out-of-state shareholders a 9.5 percent annual return on the backs of Iowa customers and communities."

The DAG says the proposed agreement calls for a roughly 15 percent increase for residential customers, 11 percent increase for general service (commercial), 15 percent increase for large general service customers, and a 20 percent increase for large general service "supplementary" customers (who have some of their own electricity generation).

The Decorah Area Group says the proposed 2020 increase would come on the heels of a nearly 8 percent increase effective in 2018, and a high likelihood based on company filings of more rate increases either every year or every other year for the foreseeable future.