Two utilities serving eastern Iowa have announced plans for rate increases. Iowa-American Water Company wants an eight-percent increase due to heightened security measures it’s implemented since September 11th. Alliant Energy is seeking a rate increase in March but hasn’t said how high of a hike it wants. Alliant spokeswoman Karmen Wilhelm says the increase would help secure Iowa’s energy future and be used to invest more than one billion dollars in energy systems over the next four years. Wilhelm says Alliant’s Iowa customers have not seen a rate increase in at least eight years, while the demand for electricity has gone up nearly 30-percent.Wilhelm says Alliant has spent more than 820-million dollars since 1997 to upgrade its equipment and systems. The company has not decided the amount of the increase.
