Hancock County supervisors unanimously adopt resolution opposing Alliant Energy rate increase
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Summary
On Feb. 20 the Hancock County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution No. 2024-009 opposing Alliant Energy’s proposed two‑year rate increase and authorized filing the resolution as an official comment in Iowa Utilities Board Docket RPU-2023-0002.
The Hancock County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Feb. 20 to adopt Resolution No. 2024-009 formally opposing Alliant Energy’s proposed two‑year phased-in electric rate increase and authorizing the county to file the resolution as an official comment in Iowa Utilities Board Docket RPU-2023-0002.
The resolution, moved by Supervisor Florence (Sis) Greiman and seconded by Supervisor Jerry J. Tlach, cites company filings that estimate residential bills would rise about 13.4%, small-business bills about 20%, and large general service customers between about 17.4% and 20%. It also notes the company’s 2022 financial figures and a comparison with MidAmerican Energy Company showing higher average 2022 cents per kilowatt-hour for Alliant by customer class (for example, residential: Alliant 17.75 cents/kWh vs. MidAmerican 11.01 cents/kWh).
The Board’s statement frames the proposed increase as a potential hardship for low- and moderate-income and fixed-income households, small businesses, nonprofit and educational institutions, and municipal government. The resolution says the company’s proposed $284 million additional revenue requirement would average about $565 more per Alliant customer and that a 15%–20% increase in the county’s electricity purchases would raise local government expenses.
The resolution directs regulators to address high and rising costs, to support customer- and community-owned distributed energy resources (for example, solar and battery storage), to require integrated resource planning and competitive procurement, and to limit excessive returns on equity. It authorizes the Hancock County Board to file the resolution in Docket RPU-2023-0002 within ten days and to send copies to the county’s state representative and state senator. The document also encourages residents to submit comments to the Iowa Utilities Board referencing that docket.
No individual speeches or extended debate on the resolution appear in the meeting record; the Board’s adoption is recorded as unanimous. The Board did not record a specific motion to amend the resolution; the motion to adopt was recorded as moved by Greiman and seconded by Tlach and carried unanimously.
Next steps: the county-authorized filing should appear in the Iowa Utilities Board docket within the ten-day window specified in the resolution.