Information for college students

Before you sign a lease, talk with your landlord about who pays for which utilities. Some landlords take care of utility expenses and recoup the cost through your rent. Others let renters handle this directly with local utility companies. So just ask! While you’re at it, here’s a few more questions you’ll want to get clarity on.

• Will the electricity be on when I get there or do I need to start service?
• Do I need to put service in my name?
• Who’s in charge of paying the bill?
• Who pays for air conditioning?
• What kind of meter do we have? Is it a smart meter?
• What kind of heating system does the house or apartment have? Furnace, boiler, baseboard?

Once you set up My Account, you can easily grant access to your account to another person – like a roommate, spouse or parent.

Here’s how to add a guest user on a mobile device:

1. After logging in to My Account, click on the three dashes at the top right of the screen.
2. Under My Profile, select Guest User.
3. Click Invite User (located at the top right of the screen).
4. A screen will pop up to request the following information:
   -Service Account: Select the account you would like the guest user to access.
   -Name: Enter the guest user’s name.
   -Role: Select full or view-only access for your guest user. If your guest will need to take account actions, such as making a payment, they will need full access.
   -Email: Enter your guest user’s email address.
   -Access Period: Indicate how long your guest user should keep their access to your account. You can set this for as long as you would like.
5. The invited user will receive an email to activate their account.

Summer months tend to have higher electricity bills. Winter months tend to have higher gas bills. Keep in mind that energy costs will vary based on your location and usage.

If your new apartment or house is in the Alliant Energy service area, you can check its previous energy use and costs.

You pay for electricity based on how much you use. Small changes can make a big difference.

1. Use LED lightbulbs instead of incandescent bulbs. You could save as much as $75 a year! LEDs last a long time, so don’t forget to take them with you when you leave!
2. Buy a smart power strip to automatically power down devices that aren’t in use.
3. Lower your thermostat by 10 degrees if you’re going out of town for the weekend.

Get more energy saving tips

If you can’t pay your bill in full by your due date, you may be eligible for a Payment Extension or Payment Arrangement.

Learn more about the options you have to get help paying your utility bill.

When it’s time to move out:

• You can stop service online through My Account.
• Does your new place also receive service from Alliant Energy? If so, simply move your service online.