MidAmerican Energy is exploring a large data center site on about 900 acres that the small town of Salix annexed in April 2026, and in August 2026 Google was identified as the prospective customer. Woodbury County is challenging the annexation in court, and Salix residents narrowly voted 3 to 2 against a moratorium that would have paused the project. The land would still need to be rezoned before any data center could actually be built.
Want this worked out for one street address? The address report, $19, covers what is being planned near it, your county's rules, and what each nearby site could mean for noise, water, and your bill. See the address report.
Power bills in Woodbury County
Most of the county is served by MidAmerican Energy.
MidAmerican Energy is asking the commission for a 5.2% residential increase (MidAmerican Energy natural gas rate increase (docket RPU-2026-0001)). On a $58 monthly bill that is about $3 to $5 a month. This case does not set rates directly, but the new solar plant it approves will eventually be paid for through customer rates, and MidAmerican has said data center growth is a major reason it is needed.
MidAmerican Energy filed for a final natural gas base rate increase of about 54.9 million dollars a year, or 9.7 percent of test year tariffed revenue, which the company says would raise a typical residential customer's monthly bill by about 2.89 dollars, roughly 5 percent; a temporary interim increase subject to refund has been in effect since around July 17, 2026. The Iowa Utilities Commission held public consumer comment meetings on September 8 in Cedar Rapids, September 9 in Des Moines, and September 10 in Sioux City, all in 2026, where MidAmerican reiterated its request. As of October 2026 the commission had not yet set a procedural schedule or hearing date for cross examination of witnesses, no settlement or decision has been reported, and the company's prior gas rate case took roughly nine months from filing to a final order.
Every Iowa rate case in dollars a month, with hearing dates: willmybillgoup.com, our rate case tracker.
Alerts for Woodbury County
An email when a filing, hearing, or status changes within 25 miles of the county seat. For a tighter radius, check your own address and subscribe there.
Unsubscribe with one click. We do not sell the list.