Ask The Answer Person: Why haven't you mentioned that Alliant Energy has won approval for its rate increase?

(A reader asks: "Why haven't you had an article about the Iowa Utilities Board approving Alliant Energy's rate increase?"):

The Answer Person says: "Yes, there has been a ruling by the Iowa Utilities Board, but it involves natural gas rates charged by Alliant Energy, NOT electricity rates.

Before Christmas the IUB issued a ruling which gave Alliant Energy half the rate increase it had requested for natural gas customers.  Instead of an $8-per-month increase, the IUB approved a $4-per-month increase in the average residential bill.  But because other factors such as the state-mandated energy-efficiency charge and the cost of natural gas have been declining, Alliant says the average residential natural gas bill in 2020 will be lower than it was in 2018.

But it's important to point out that the IUB ruling on electricity charges will have a much broader effect than the one on natural gas rates.  The Iowa Utilities Board has yet to issue its decision on Alliant's rate increase request for electricity."