The Iowa Utilities board is giving an Iowa power company part of the rate increase it’s requesting. Board spokesman Rob Hillesland says it won’t be long before it shows up on bills. Mid-American energy asked for a 3-point-three increase and the board approved a 2-point-2 percent increase worth about 13-point-8 million dollars. Hillesland says by early next week the board should produce a written order which will authorize adding that temporary hike to your bill. He says the final ruling could grant the whole rate increase, none, the amount in this temporary hike, or some other figure.Part of granting a temporary rate is the agreement that if they settle on a smaller hike, the power company will pay customers back. Petroleum prices are down this spring, but Hillesland says the cost of that fuel, or Mid-America’s natural gas for customers, isn’t a factor in this case.It isn’t related to the commodity price of gas, but depends on the cost of transporting and delivering natural gas. By mid-September the utility board will make a final decision on whether the gas company gets its rate increase, and how much it will be. Mid-American serves over half a million customer in Iowa.
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