Alliant Energy says construction of a proposed 400-million dollar natural gas-fired electricity generating plant in Cerro Gordo County is in jeopardy. That’s if the Iowa Utilities Board accepts a request from the Office of the Consumer Advocate that Alliant lower, not raise, rates for Interstate Power and Light customers. The O-C-A’s office Monday released a recommendation that Interstate customers have their rates reduced by six-point-three million dollars. Alliant spokesman John Ruff says the company is disappointed with the O-C-A’s request. He says they’re trying to invest billions in Iowa and says they’d reevaluate the plant if the request to lower their rates is approved.Ruff says Alliant wants to move forward with the plans for the natural gas-fired plant, but needs more money to fund it.Ruff says if the O-C-A’s request is approved, areas served by Interstate Power and Light could be losing out on a lot of benefits.Ruff says they want to head off any future problems by upgrading their infrastructure now. He says the rising demand for energy is driving the need for them to invest and upgrade their network of poles, wires and substations.Alliant is asking for an 82-million dollar increase, while the Consumer Advocate says they should refund six-point-three million dollars to customers. He’s also recommended assuring a nine-point-six percent profit, as contrasted with the more than twelve-percent the company asked for.
