The Iowa Utilities Board has approved a request by Alliant Energy’s subsidiary Iowa Power and Light (I-P-L) to raise the delivery cost charged to customers for natural gas. Alliant spokesman, Justin Foss, says the company will use tax credits it has from projects to do a three-year phase in program. “What that means now is that when customers see their bills, they will see the increase on there, however, they will also see a credit on there, and that will negate the increase,” Foss explains. “And customers really won’t experience the affects of this rate case until at least 2016.”

Natural gas customers pay the utility the cost of delivering the gas, and the second part of their bill is for the actual gas itself.
“For residential customers, that’s about 60 to 70-percent of the cost of gas. There’s another 30 to 40-percent that they see, and that cost is the cost of providing the service — and that’s really what this rate case is addressing. And while there is a small increase in providing the service, the majority of the cost is made up of the cost of gas itself,” Foss says.

He says the company has put some 70-million dollars into the delivery system the company uses to bring the gas to homes and the increase lets them recover that cost. Alliant customers will see a couple of changes on their bills. Foss says they will see the customer charge go up about three dollars a month and the cost for the amount of gas they use will go down slightly.

The cost of natural gas has dropped over the last couple of years, which has led to an average 20-percent drop in a customer’s bill.
“Supply and demand has really benefited customers and consumers right now. There is a large supply of natural gas, and demand has stayed relatively unchanged. And so as supply and demand work their way together, consumers right now are benefiting with some really low natural gas costs,” Foss says.

Alliant’s I-P-L subsidiary supplies natural gas to some 220-thousand Iowans in 240 communities.

(Radio Iowa)

Today (Tuesday), at the Governor’s Bullying Prevention Summit, Governor Branstad announced the launch of a new “go-to” resource where youth, parents, school personnel and all concerned Iowans can get help and information about bullying and youth suicide. Available 24/7, Your Life Iowa is a phone call or text away at www.Yourlifeiowa.org or 855-581-8111.

Trained counselors will provide guidance and support about bullying, and critical help to youth who feel they’ve run out of options and are considering suicide. Your Life Iowa is funded by the Iowa Department of Public Health in partnership with Boys Town, the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Committee, and the Iowa Department of Education Bullying Prevention, Intervention and Reporting Initiative.

Officers with the Atlantic Police Department have been keeping busy early this week. Today (Tuesday), they arrested 33-year old Ryan Richards and 26-year old Justin Knutsen, both of Atlantic, on charges of Theft in the 5th Degree. Richards was also cited for Criminal Trespassing and subsequently released, while Knutsen was booked in to the Cass County Jail.

And, on Monday, 24-year old Jonathan Poeppe, of Atlantic, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. In addition, 33-year old Essex Mullins, of Atlantic, was arrested for Theft in the 5th Degree/Shoplifting. Both were booked in to the Cass County Jail.

Members of the Exira and Elk Horn-Kimballton Community School District’s Boards of Education met Monday night in Exira for a joint Board meeting on the topic of reorganization. Exira-EHK Superintendent Dean Schnoes said no action could be taken due to the lack of a quorum from the EHK Board. Schnoes said the meeting essentially turned into a work session, which featured Area Education Agency (AEA) representatives Paula Vincent and Lane Plugge.

Schnoes said a few members of the community showed up to listen and ask questions about reorganization and consolidation of the two school districts. He says the Q-and-A and discussion process won’t stop with the most recent meeting. Schnoes said they will continue to hold community meetings every time there is new information that’s made available. Information will also be available on the district’s website and their related FaceBook page.

Once the final petition is put together and approved, the matter could be put to a vote of members in both school districts, by early April 2013. He says if other issues crop up, the vote might end-up being pushed back until June of next year, but he hopes that doesn’t happen.