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RATE SOURCE
Rates
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MidAmerican is proposing an increase in Illinois natural gas distribution rates of approximately $3.387 million, or 3.6 percent, over 2008 revenues (Illinois Commerce Commission Docket number 09-0312). A natural gas rate case has not been filed in Illinois by MidAmerican since 2001. MidAmerican has experienced increased operating costs including the cost of materials and supplies, labor and employee benefits. The rate relief is being requested in order to continue to provide safe and reliable natural gas service.
Gas and electric rates are regulated by state regulators following specific ratemaking rules. In Iowa the regulatory body is the Iowa Utilities Board, in Illinois the regulatory body is the Illinois Commerce Commission and in South Dakota the regulatory body is the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission.
Each regulatory body has specific ratemaking rules and procedures. Each follows the same general theory, allowing recovery of operating expenses. Utilities also are allowed to recover the costs of their capitalized assets like electric generating stations, natural gas distribution pipeline and electric substations. These costs are recovered over the estimated life of the assets. Utilities also are allowed to earn a fair return on their assets to compensate investors for capital investments. The rate of return on the investment is determined by the regulating body.
The total amount of the costs to be recovered and the return on investment equals the amount that the utility is entitled to recover in its rate and is spread over the total usage and customer base to establish a monthly customer charge and a rate per therm for natural gas or kilowatt-hour for electricity. The regulatory body in each state approves the allocation of these costs to each tariff.
MidAmerican Energy maintains a copy of each of its tariffs on its Web site. The tariffs can be viewed by selecting the Rates tab at www.midamericanenergy.com.
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