(Des Moines) – The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) today issued two orders that set procedural schedules in Alliant Energy-Interstate Power & Light Company’s (Alliant) application for proposed electric and natural gas service base rate increases.  

The orders set hearing dates of October 7-9, 2019, in the electric rate case, docketed as 

RPU-2019-0001, and November 4-5, 2019, in the natural gas rate case, RPU-2019-0002. Hearings will begin at 9 a.m. on those scheduled dates in the Hearing Room at the IUB Building, 
1375 E. Court Ave. in Des Moines.

Today’s electric rate case order also denied a motion by the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), a division of the Iowa Department of Justice, to reduce the amount Alliant will collect under interim rate increases that went into effect April 1, 2019. The OCA had argued that Alliant set the interim rates using the wrong return on equity calculation. In reviewing the motion, the IUB determined that Iowa law does not allow the IUB to reduce, review or approve interim rates until the conclusion of the proceeding. If the IUB determines interim rates are higher than final rates approved by the IUB, or if the IUB finds the interim rates were not based on previously established regulatory principles, the IUB may require refunds of interim rates, plus interest. The IUB directed the parties to file testimony addressing issues related to the interim rates, which will be investigated during the rate case proceeding.

Additionally, the RPU-2019-0001 order explains that a complaint filed on March 28, 2019, by Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), in which the international agribusiness company raised concerns about Alliant’s current rates for Standby Power Service, will be considered in a separate complaint proceeding identified as File No. C-2019-0037. The concerns raised by ADM that may impact future rates also will be considered during the rate case proceeding. 

ADM was granted intervention in the electric case, and other petitions to intervene were granted for the Sierra Club, MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican), the Environmental Law & Policy Center, and the Iowa Environmental Council. Petitions to intervene in the natural gas case were approved for MidAmerican and WoodRiver Energy, LLC.