May 2 (Reuters) - Utility firm Alliant Energy ( LNT ) on

Thursday reported a fall in first quarter profit weighed down by

unfavorable weather and higher financing expenses.

Warmer-than-usual winter in the areas where Alliant Energy ( LNT )

operates dragged down customers' need for electricity and gas to

keep themselves warm during the colder months.

Alliant is based in Madison, Wisconsin, operates in the

Midwest and serves roughly 1 million electric and 425,000

natural gas customers.

The utility firm said electric and gas sales decreased about

$0.08 per share and $0.04 per share, respectively in the quarter

ended March. 31, from the previous year due to the warmer

weather.

The company's higher financing expense impacted earnings by

$0.04 per share in the quarter from a year earlier.

The company reported a profit of $158 million or 62 cents

per share for the first quarter, compared with $163 million or

65 cents per share from a year earlier.