By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) _ Iowa regulators have approved a settlement on MidAmerican Energy's plans to increase electric rates to cover rising costs.
The Iowa Utilities Board says Tuesday the deal allows MidAmerican to increase annual revenue by $38.7 million, or 4 percent, in 2012. The utility temporarily raised rates in March.
For 2013, the increase will raise $37.3 million, for a total two-year increase of 6.7 percent.
Customers now pay about $2.33 more monthly due to the March increase, which will remain for the rest of the year. In 2013, average bills will go up another $1.30.
Regulators say the increase is ``reasonable'' and less than what the company likely would have received in a traditional rate case.
MidAmerican, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha, Neb., is Iowa's largest utility with 770,000 customers.
