The Iowa Utilities Board has approved a settlement worked out between the Office of Consumer Advocate and the Aquila natural gas company that impacts 130 Iowa cities. Board spokesman Rob Hillesland says the agreement includes a rate increase. He says the increase will provide the company an increase of about two-point-six-million dollars — which is a one-point-six-six percent increase.
Hillesland says for customers each month the cost was nine-dollars-20 cents before the request, a temporary rate increase of nine-dollars-59-cents was approved in May and the new rate is 10-dollars-44 cents — or an increase of 85 cents.
The Utilities Board turned down a second Aquila request. Hillesland says Aquila sought an additional charge to recover the cost of capital development, but the Utilities Board turned down the request, determining “the charge was not in the public interest.” Aquila serves 144-thousand natural gas customers across the state. The two largest cities served are Dubuque and Council Bluffs.