FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  June 7, 2013

Contact:  Rob Hillesland, 515.725.7322, [log in to unmask];   Web site:  http://iub.iowa.gov

Public meetings set for MidAmerican Energy Company customers to comment on proposed electric rate increase

Iowa Utilities Board continues to receive written comments

(Des Moines) – The Iowa Utilities Board (Board) has announced eight public meetings for customers to provide comments on a proposed electric rate increase filed by MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican) for its Iowa service territory. During these meetings, customers will be able to ask questions and provide comments to representatives of the Board, MidAmerican, and the Office of Consumer Advocate, which represents the general interests of customers in all Board proceedings.

Eight public meetings all starting at 5:30 p.m. are currently scheduled at the following:

• Iowa City:  Thursday, June 13, 2013, Iowa City Public Library, Room A, 123 S. Linn Street.

• Des Moines:  Monday, June 17, 2013, Iowa Utilities Board/Office of Consumer Advocate Building, Hearing Room, 1375 E. Court Avenue.
• Storm Lake:  Tuesday, June 18, 2013, King’s Pointe Resort, Rooms A and B, 1520 E. Lakeshore Drive.
• Council Bluffs:  Monday, June 24, 2013, Council Bluffs Public Library, Room B, 400 Willow Avenue.
• Sioux City:  Tuesday, June 25, 2013, Briar Cliff University, Stark Student Center, Clare Room, 3303 Rebecca Street.
• Davenport:  Wednesday, June 26, 2013, Modern Woodmen Park, 3rd Floor Suite Level, 209 S. Gaines Street.
• Waterloo:  Thursday, June 27, 2013, Petersen Town Hall, Waterloo Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial Street.
• Fort Dodge:  Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Best Western Starlite Village Inn and Suites, 1518 3rd Avenue NW.

Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate in a consumer comment hearing should contact the Board at (515) 725-7334 at least five days in advance of the scheduled date to request that appropriate arrangements be made.

All comments provided at these public meetings will become part of the permanent record in this rate case. The ten-month deadline for the Board’s decision on permanent rates is March 17, 2014.

On May 17, 2013, MidAmerican filed a petition, identified as Docket No. RPU-2013-0004, proposing a total increase in base rates of approximately $135.6 million to be phased-in over three years. Under MidAmerican’s proposal, there would be three $45.2 million increases, one on August 15, 2013, the second on January 1, 2015, and the third on January 1, 2016. The first increase is subject to the Board’s decision on temporary rates, which must be issued 90 days from the date of filing, or August 15, 2013. The remainder of the phase-in proposal will be addressed in the Board’s decision on final rates. If permanent rates are determined that are less than temporary rates, customers will receive a refund plus interest for any over-collection.

MidAmerican’s rate filing also includes a 10-year proposal to equalize rates across its three service zones in Iowa, which would not increase revenue for the utility. The different electric rates exist due to the past merger of utility companies to form MidAmerican Energy Company.

In addition, MidAmerican is requesting Board approval to add two adjustment clauses to Iowa customers’ monthly bills for costs associated with energy and transmission. If approved, any adjustment clause costs would be subject to annual review and reconciliation to actual expenditures by the Board.

The Board is also accepting written public comments in this case. The most effective written comments are concise and make specific points about why someone supports or objects to the rate request. More information about this rate case and an electronic comment form are  available on the Board’s web site, http://iub.iowa.gov. Written comments may also be emailed to [log in to unmask] or mailed to the Iowa Utilities Board, Executive Secretary, Docket No. RPU-2013-0004, 1375 E. Court Avenue, Room 69, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069.

All publicly filed documents in this rate case (reference the docket number above) are available on the Board’s electronic filing web site, efs.iowa.gov. 

MidAmerican serves about 640,600 electric customers in Iowa.

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The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.