The American Public Power Association has released its latest report on electric rates charged by all of the electric utilities throughout the U.S.   Based on the report, of the 182 electric utilities operating in the state of Iowa, Atlantic Municipal Utilities (AMU) ranks as the eighth lowest cost provider when comparing the average cost of electricity charged to all of AMU’s consumers. In addition, when comparing the rates charged to residential consumers, there were only three electric utilities in Iowa with a lower residential rate than AMU.

Jennifer Saathoff, AMU Comptroller, says “We were very pleased to see the results of the latest rate comparisons among electric utilities. Iowa has among the lowest electric rates in the U.S. and for AMU to be among the lowest cost providers in the state is something that benefits all of us.”

AMU says increased costs to meet stricter environmental and regulatory requirements, especially at the coal-fired Walter Scott, Jr. Energy Center Unit 3 plant in Council Bluffs, has put upward pressure on the electric rates AMU charges local consumers. AMU is a 2.5% owner in the plant which provides approximately 70% of the energy needed to meet local consumer demand. Most of the remaining power to service our area is provided through purchase power contracts with Western Area Power Administration, for hydro-generated electricity, and Missouri River Energy Services, located in Sioux Falls, SD. Atlantic’s local generation includes a dual fuel, 4.5 MW, Nordberg diesel generator and a 10 MW, low-NOx dual fuel natural gas generator. The local generation is utilized primarily to meet capacity and energy reserve requirements, emergency generation, and occasional energy sales.

AMU provides electrical service to 3,953 residential and commercial consumers within the city of Atlantic and another 670 residential and commercial consumers in the surrounding rural area.

The American Public Power Association (APPA), based in Washington, D.C., is a national service organization representing the unified interests of the nation’s more than 2,000 community-owned municipal electric utilities. Collectively, municipal utilities serve more than 48 million Americans.

(Press Release)