We urge people to go to the public hearing at 7 p.m. tonight at Riverland Community College in Albert Lea. It regards the 22 percent rate increase Alliant Energy foisted upon its users last summer.

Why should you go? Here is a list:

• Go for your pocketbook. If the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission agrees the increase was too severe, Alliant Energy will refund — probably in the form of a credit on your bill — the money you overpaid since the increase.

• Go for your tax dollars. The city is Alliant’s largest municipal customer in Minnesota. When it has to pay a large heating bill for city buildings, it pays with your tax dollars. That’s your money. Hefty bills drain funds from fire, police, parks maintenance, snow removal, library and services like that.

• Go because the rate hike seems wrong. City officials and Alliant disagree on reasons for the rate hike, but Mayor Vern Rasmussen and economic development chief Dan Dorman, along with the city’s law firm, make fairly strong claims about how Alliant is not using its gains from a recent asset sale to offset leases and renewable energy mandates. Other claims mention passing the cost of a failed power plant and an overpaid wind farm to customers. We know Rasmussen and Dorman wouldn’t put their names to such claims lightly.

• Go because the rate hike lacks economic ground. We are in a time of joblessness, struggling families and an unsure national future. Economists last summer even were worried about deflation — when the price of things go down. Meanwhile, coal and natural gas remain inexpensive. As a result, Alliant should have enough in its coffers to pay for its existing expenses without rate hikes, especially 22 percent ones. We ask families and governments to penny pinch. We ask small businesses to penny pinch. Can energy companies penny pinch, too?

It should be noted the city and residents of Albert Lea absolutely cherish Alliant’s longtime relationships in our city, its presence downtown, its beautiful restored building and especially its workers. But friends can disagree at times. This is one of those times.