(Radio Iowa) – An advocacy group for older Iowans is raising concerns about Alliant Energy’s proposal to raise its natural gas and electric rates. Brad Anderson is state director for A-A-R-P. “We look at pocketbook issues that impact older Iowans,” Anderson says,”and we have determined that now is just not t e right time to be raising rates on older consumers.”

Alliant has asked the Iowa Utilities Board to approve a five percent rate increase for its 250-thousand natural gas customers. Alliant is seeking a seven-point-seven percent increase in rates for its half a million electric customers in Iowa. Anderson calls that excessive.

“The proposal will raise residential natural gas and electric rates by nearly $300 million over the next two years,” Anderson says. “…This amounts to around $250 per year for residential customers.” Anderson says A-A-R-P is urging the Iowa Utilities Board to carefully review Alliant’s application, including its return on equity, which is a measure of its profitability.

“AARP certainly is paying attention to utility rates across the country because of the fact that older Iowans on a fixed income have been struggling over the last several years with inflation and that means that older Iowans have had to choose between paying for prescriptions or paying for food and rent,” Anderson says, “and we don’t want to add utilities into the mix here.”

Alliant says it needs to modernize and strengthen its energy grid by moving overhead power lines underground — and that will reduce power outages. About 20 percent of the company’s lines are underground today. Alliant’s last rate hike was in 2019 and since then the company says it has dealt with inflation and the repair of infrastructure damaged by the derecho in August of 2020. The Iowa Utilities Board has held four public hearings this month on Alliant’s rate hike request.