On March 10, 2010, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company, filed an electric rate case with the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB). The request to change rates is necessary to recover the costs of investing in a sustainable energy future for the benefit of our electric customers. Our company is investing in greener sources of energy and technologies that will help reduce our impact on the environment while meeting future energy needs.
Our company is investing nearly $1 billion invested in 2009 and 2010 to expand renewable energy, reduce emissions and enhance reliability for the benefit of our Iowa customers.
Our rate request includes:
Expanding renewables – $468 million investment in the Whispering Willow-East Wind Farm in Franklin County, Iowa. The Wind Farm is powering nearly 50,000 Iowa homes with clean, renewable energy.
Reducing emissions - $188 million investment to make Iowa’s air cleaner by reducing emissions from our Lansing Unit 4 power plant. The installation of emissions reduction controls is expected to remove more than 90 percent of NOx and mercury emissions for the 270 megawatt power plant.
Enhancing reliability - $228 million being spent and invested in transmission system, power plants, substations, poles and underground and overhead distribution lines in 2009-2010. These investments are necessary to provide safe and reliable service and enhance our ability to meet your future energy needs.
Costs of doing business – General operational costs associated with providing safe and reliable energy service to our customers.
Tariffs | Rate Equalization | Sumbit a Question | Customer Notification | FAQ
Tariffs
Interim Tariff [PDF]
Final Tariff [PDF]
Rate Case Equalization Plan
Learn more about IPL's tariff consolidation cand the ongoing steps towards rate equalization in Iowa.
Submit a Question
Have a question, concern or comment about the rate case? Use our convenient feedback form to let us know what you're thinking.
Customer Notification
IES Northern - Residential customer notice [PDF]
IES South - Residential customer notice [PDF]
IPC - Residential customer notice [PDF]
IES Northern - General Service customer notice [PDF]
IES South - General Service customer notice [PDF]
IES Southeastern - General Service customer notice [PDF]
IPC - General Service customer notice [PDF]
Large General Service customer notice [PDF]
Large General Service - Bulk Rate customer notice [PDF]
Municipal Lighting customer notice [PDF]
Need to determine which pricing zone you're in? Take a look at our map.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a rate case?
Formal process regulated utilities must go through to change retail base rates. Because we are regulated by the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB), we can only change our prices, or base rates, by filing a rate case to recover the costs of delivering electricity to homes and businesses. Unlike retail consumer businesses, we are not able to change our prices without a formal rate case when the cost of doing business changes or we make a significant capital investment.
Didn’t IPL just file for a rate increase in 2009?
Yes. The rate change request was our company’s first since 2004. The request was necessary to recover costs related to the rebuilding of the electric system after the 2007 ice storms and 2008 flood and investments and costs related to electric reliability and our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment.
On January 19, 2010, IUB issued its written decision on IPL’s request. The IUB’s decision struck a balance between mitigating cost impact on customers and our commitment to serve.
Key IUB decisions:
Why is IPL filing a rate case?
The request to change rates is necessary to recover the costs of investing in a sustainable energy future for the benefit of our electric customers. Our company is investing in greener sources of energy and technologies that will help reduce our impact on the environment while meeting future energy needs.
What is the impact on customers?
Proposed change in electric rates to impact customers’ electric bills in two stages – interim and final rates.
Interim rates
The percentage increase will vary by customer type. Iowa customers should expect interim rates to increase their 2010 average monthly bills by approximately:
IPL expect to implement interim electric rates on March 20, 2010. Interim rates will remain in effect until the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) issues a final decision on the request, which is expected in first quarter 2011.
Final rates
The percentage increase will vary by customer type. For residential and general service customers, IPL is proposing that the fifth, and final, step of the rate equalization plan previously approved by the IUB in 2006 be implemented. The change in final rates is in addition to the impact of interim rates.
If approved by the IUB, Iowa customers should expect final rates to increase their 2011 average monthly bills by an approximately:
Residential customers
General Service customers
Large General Service customers: 3.2 percent
Large General Service-Bulk customers: 2.5 percent
Municipal Lighting and Area Security Lighting customers: 0 percent
Final rates are expected to be implemented in first quarter 2011. IPL is proposing customer cost management plan to reduce impact of overall rate increase on customer bills.
What is IPL’s customer cost management plan?
As part of its final rates proposal, IPL is requesting that the IUB approve the company’s cost management plan. If approved by the IUB, IPL expects the cost management plan to:
It’s a tough economy. Why are you raising rates now?
Our company recognizes the impact any change in rates makes. The rate case is necessary at this time to recover costs related to our nearly $1 billion of investments in greener sources of energy, including the Whispering Willow-East Wind Farm and technologies that will reduce our impact on the environment while meeting future energy needs.
Is this the only rate case IPL is planning in the next few years?
IPL remains committed to ‘Investing in Iowa’ and maintaining our costs of providing safe, reliable and environmentally responsible service to customers. Our company anticipates that customers’ rates will increase annually by four to six percent annually over the next five years due to the rising costs of producing and distributing energy.
How do your rates compare to the cost of other goods and services?
How do your electric rates compare to other utilities across the nation?
Why are MidAmerican Energy’s electric rates lower than IPL’s?
Fundamental differences in the situation of two companies as both companies provide safe and reliable service to their customers.
MidAmerican is a net exporter of power, while Alliant Energy is currently a net importer. The key driver for cost differences are:
Questions or comments?
We are privileged to provide our Iowa electric customers with safe, reliable and environmentally sound service. If you have questions, concerns or comments, please call 1-800-ALLIANT (1-800-255-4268), use our feedback form, or email iowarates@alliantenergy.com.
