OK, so Alliant Energy is proposing a 13.8% rate increase (see link to article at end of post) saying that it's due to the cost of green energy and their 200 megawatt wind farm.  Does anyone else have a problem with this?  I mean, I thought that these wind turbines would pay for themselves over the course of 10 years or something like that...and it's not like they have to pay for the source of the energy...the wind is free.  I understand that a certain amount of maintenance needs to be factored in and everything, but I don't understand how they can charge a huge premium that will undoubtedly be a permanent rate increase.  To me, it sounds like someone is lining their pockets at our expense.  And all of this comes right on the heels of an 8% increase that was put in recently for flood recovery.  The only positive that I can see in all of this is that they are making going off the grid a more compelling option.

http://gazetteonline.com/local-news...e-increase

--AJ

Love my co-op baby! If they do this sort of thing I have a voice. But...they don't seem to do this sort of thing.

i'm gonna buy a new house out in the country and get my own wind turbine....f-ing rediculous...

I live in the country and am an alliant captive - I mean "customer"...have looked into wind turbines but can't get a *decent* one to cashflow on paper...?

Posted By Dave on 03/10/2010 03:33 PM
I live in the country and am an alliant captive - I mean "customer"...have looked into wind turbines but can't get a *decent* one to cashflow on paper...?

Yeah, I've heard that from others too.  The technology is improving and getting cheaper, but not quite there for a single household.  Other options are becoming available like shingles that are actually solar panels creating electricity...not heating water; and durable enough to withstand harsh conditions.  It seems like geothermal has really taken off if you have the space for it...and new techniques are requiring less space than ever (stacking the coils vertically instead of laying them out over a large area).  Don't get me wrong, I'm not against green energy, it's great and the way we should go to save our environment; I just have a problem with Alliant sticking the customers with the bill when the devices themselves should give full ROI over time.  You can bet they won't start reducing the rates when the wind turbines have paid themselves off.  It's quite the racket.

--AJ

that ant no sht. man people can hardly pay there bills now and they wounder why people get out of hand and that they are stressed out . Heck any more u get taxed for haven nice things what a bunch of crap !!!! Alliant u can STICK IT>>> Sry if i got out of hand but this really burns me......

About 15 years ago, the power companies convinced the government that they needed to be "de-regulated" because more competition would mean better prices for consumers... Well, the government did it and 15 years later and do you think us consumers are any better off?