CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – June 19, 2008 – As Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), an Alliant Energy company works to reinstate gas service to customers affected by the recent flooding in Palo, the company offers these specific recommendations to make sure the process goes as smoothly as possible. Customers should only re-enter their home following the plan set forth by the city and county officials.

For your safety, if you are returning to your flood-damaged home, and did not call Alliant Energy to have your electricity or natural gas disconnected prior to leaving, you must call
1-800-ALLIANT (1-800-255-4268) to be disconnected. Never walk through a flooded home or building until the electricity is disconnected. Even a small amount of water on the floor of your basement can put you at risk for electrocution. Once the power is disconnected, it’s safe to begin clean up.

For electric restoration, homes must have necessary repairs completed and pass inspection by a certified electrician before Alliant Energy can reconnect the electricity. When the electrician has completed their inspection, they will notify the Linn County inspector. An inspector from the county will inspect the home. Once approved, the customer or the county inspector must contact Alliant Energy to have power reconnected.

For natural gas service restoration, customers must contact a licensed heating or appliance/service repair contractor to inspect the furnace, water heater, and other natural gas appliances and make necessary repairs. When the heating or appliance/service repair contractor has completed their inspection, they will notify the Linn County inspector. An inspector from the county will inspect the home. Once approved, the customer or the county inspector must contact Alliant Energy to have the gas reinstated.

Flooded Gas Appliance: If water has reached a gas appliance, a professional must check the unit. In all cases where a customer has decided to salvage the unit, the gas valves, pilot and burner orifices, controls and the filter will need to be replaced. A qualified professional should only do this work.

Natural gas furnaces, space heaters and boilers all have gas valves and controls that are especially vulnerable to water damage from floods. Corrosion begins inside the valves and controls, and damage may not be readily visible, even if the outside of the device is clean and dry. At a minimum, this damage can result in reliability problems. More severe consequences could be fire or explosion.

No Water Damage: In some cases, the gas service was shut off even though you did not receive any water damage. If so, contact Alliant Energy to have your service turned on.

Contact: If you have any questions or if your service is ready to be turned on, contact Alliant Energy at 1-866-255-4268.

Please note that Alliant Energy does not charge for flood-related disconnects and reconnects. Shutting off gas and electric service during times of flooding is done for safety purposes. Alliant Energy will not charge customers to have service turned off when flooding occurs, or turned back on after the clean-up is done.