(Radio Iowa) – Voters in a northeast Iowa city have defeated a plan to create a city-owned electric utility. Decorah residents have said no to a municipal electric utility. In Tuesday’s referendum, 53.6% of voters said they did not want the city to pursue the matter. It was the second time the City of Decorah put the issue up for a vote. In 2018, the proposal failed by just three votes. This time, the margin of defeat was larger — 182 votes. Decorah currently gets its electricity from Alliant Energy.

There are more than 750 municipal utlities in Iowa that provide electricity, gas, water and broadband service to city residents.