Alliant Energy will ask for an electricity rate increase from the Iowa Utilities Board. Company spokesman John Ruff says it has been seven-to-15 years since Iowa customers have seen a rate hike.Ruff says the rate increase will help pay for investments in utility poles, wires and generating plants. He says the rate increase will be a relatively small one.Alliant has 464-thousand electric customers in Iowa. The proposed increase would average nine-point-six percent, and Ruff says it will cost customers an average of eight dollars a month.