MARCUS LAW OFFICES 1946 Mansion Drive, Fairfield, Iowa 52556 July 16, 2020 | [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> |(641) 472-5945
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR THOSE WANTING TO OPT OUT You have until July 31, 2020 to opt out I know some of you are bothered that you were told that you only have until today to confirm your opt out. But you actually have until the end of July.. Around June 24th Alliant’s senior attorney told us in writing that you have until the end of July. If you heard anything different from some account rep at Alliant or anyone in our community, it is not the case. Also, apparently many people do not know why Alliant was asking for confirmation of your opt out status and believe there was an ulterior motive to take away your opt out meter. Any rumors or statements that Alliant did not need to get another opt out from you were mistakes. Maybe, if you knew the reason Alliant sent the new opt out notices, there might not have been so much anger and stress resulting from the situation, and am sorry I was not involved enough to correct any misunderstandings. I am not trying to defend Alliant’s screw up about the multiple notices, etc., but by lawAlliant had to get confirmation of your opt out selection. This is because after you opted out, the Board ruled that opt out customers would have to accept estimated bills for 10 months of the year and only 2 meter readings (once every 6 months). That keeps our monthly costs low (and if you have paid too much as a result of the estimates, you will get a credit), but according to the Iowa Administrative Code, Alliant is only permitted to give estimated bills for more than 3 consecutive months unless it gets the customer’s consent. The new notices were to get that consent and also to let people know they could also now opt out to a reduced transmission smart meter without any monthly cost. Alliant made mistakes in sending multiple notices, but not in its requirement to get another opt out confirmation, but I think the high road is just to be as tolerant as we can. As you can see from the attachment <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017M2gdMnQl6nE_yuaCscKdcYrRdOFI1sYz7lzq1h_YYR_prKZfU4TsOVo8H8hngJnZGFxOUuXy9RCN38vbsQmuMREB4NIN_B0PB_iHyElaXFrmC4vzFQqtly8YCHbOe-w38XsQ39PtqWDOBFQTWJDdWCr-ZyyvSVzYFmVLh7teErsvRwr2HQ2tnP7pPeaNIL8rvohaKrE6JZ4sHsL9ajPi7vu7qvE3Mo7zKlt6jvdYAI=&c=W3rP1XspO_KQdBrBKb921nyJQlwbrzOov1Lti_ZDoA7zfCAeVNLRVQ==&ch=HeidiNLvi3fGD7trojKHlr_SEcrKV3D2zkMZiXxNXNdUw9f4Ty2hFQ==>, Alliant is trying to get everyone opted out who wants to. And Jeff Turnbull and I have had good success with Alliant by writing reasoned letters to Alliant arguing that there should be no smart meters on garages or in entry ways or corridors of residences. Some of the lower management at Alliant believed that since these areas were not living quarters, the rules required smart meters. When we got to the senior people at Alliant, they realized they needed to change their position for us. Alliant also agreed on its own to all the rules Jon Lipman and I were advocating for deciding if an analog meter was in a failed lot. All of this was accomplished without Board intervention. So, where it can be done, it is always good to try to work things out with Alliant in advance of going to battle (there is something to be said for the sentiment of making the enemy your friend). The bottom line is that Alliant, by law, had to ask for another opt out. The right to opt out is permanent. This means that if by mistake or any other reason, your opt out meter is taken without your consent, you can contact Alliant and get an opt out meter in a short time (although if you lose an analog meter unless Alliant is clearly at fault, you may be stuck with a digital opt out meter). I know some people were putting notices adjacent to their meter that it shouldn’t be taken. That may help prevent mistakes by Alliant, but it is not a substitute for opting out this final time. You do have to opt out again, so please make sure this message gets to everyone. It is possible the Board will gives even more time beyond the end of July, but to be safe opt-out by then. The online form is at alliantenergy.com/nonstandardmeter <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017M2gdMnQl6nE_yuaCscKdcYrRdOFI1sYz7lzq1h_YYR_prKZfU4TsOVo8H8hngJnk0U97S4_AGrM4d84QZlCGG2XLVLzSFI5thwZkW2y7XeU5QA1XVXPOju31rq-IUmD6Y19JHW5kGm-JJsygoyB0uoBAqWy10CGHJcgwEa0R0E=&c=W3rP1XspO_KQdBrBKb921nyJQlwbrzOov1Lti_ZDoA7zfCAeVNLRVQ==&ch=HeidiNLvi3fGD7trojKHlr_SEcrKV3D2zkMZiXxNXNdUw9f4Ty2hFQ==>. But if you are having trouble opting out online or by phone, you can opt out by email, which Alliant confirmed with me yesterday would be fine. To do this send your email to [email protected] <http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0017M2gdMnQl6nE_yuaCscKdcYrRdOFI1sYz7lzq1h_YYR_prKZfU4TsOVo8H8hngJn4Mk-035ZT01HO-GwEb4Vj3d541LMAv2rGvrPRKl1034SlMHfk3_rDhtnDe0KwAaU0u1043GEfBLnG23bKMoC3NuIqWxSaSN_&c=W3rP1XspO_KQdBrBKb921nyJQlwbrzOov1Lti_ZDoA7zfCAeVNLRVQ==&ch=HeidiNLvi3fGD7trojKHlr_SEcrKV3D2zkMZiXxNXNdUw9f4Ty2hFQ==> and provide the information in the following bullet points, assuming you don’t want a smart meter with reduced transmissions. If you do want a smart meter with reduced transmissions, the instructions in the last paragraph apply. 1) Name (add your phone # so Alliant can call you if they have questions) 2) Service Address 3) Alliant Energy Account # 4) NSMA selection for each service under that account (i.e., if customer has both gas and electric, a selection for each service). Your selection would be, for example, to keep your analog or digital electric meter and keep your gas meter with no smart meter module installed. 5) State that you agree with the terms and conditions outlined in Alliant Energy’s electric and natural gas tariffs, including being subject to any applicable charges (this is standard). 6) State you understand you will receive more than three consecutive estimated billsand are aware that estimated bills could lead to a larger than expected bill or refund credit at the time the actual meter reading is taken. If you want a reduced transmission meter for electric usage (there is no reduced transmission meter for gas service), provide all the information above, but state in point 4 that you want a reduced transmission for electric service, and you do not need to address point 6 since there are no estimated bills with the reduced transmission meter. Jay Marcus Dharma Foundation PO Box 168 Fairfield, IA 52556 Unsubscribe [email protected] <https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&m=001RObIE-zjfVxdL7oM7G8mbQ%3D&ch=81b943f4-dfe4-11e9-919d-d4ae5275396f&ca=e64eeda4-091e-45cf-84a6-21416f03edef> Update Profile <https://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&m=001RObIE-zjfVxdL7oM7G8mbQ%3D&ch=81b943f4-dfe4-11e9-919d-d4ae5275396f&ca=e64eeda4-091e-45cf-84a6-21416f03edef> | About Constant Contact <http://www.constantcontact.com/legal/about-constant-contact> Sent by [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
