Monopoly utilities abusing their rate base

Local utility Alliant Energy announced that they have taken full control of an $82M Mexican resort development, Laguna Del Mar. Thomas Content and Judy Newman follow the story. Content notes that Alliant also lost money invested in Brazil several years ago. Clearly, these regulated entities have no business spending money in this way. How about a rate cut (MG & E also spreads the money around in odd ways. Background here and here.