Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the regulation of specified gas and electric utilities
Sponsored by the Senate Commerce Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedFebruary 9, 2022
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 9, 2022
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 16, 2022
- Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: House committee
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
AI summary Small electric cooperatives and city-owned gas and electric companies would have less oversight from the Iowa utilities board. While the board would still handle things like safety standards and service disconnections, these companies would no longer be regulated for most of their rates. Electric cooperatives can still choose to have their rates regulated by the board if their members vote for it.1
Read the official explanation
This bill relates to the regulatory authority of the Iowa utilities board regarding specified gas and electric utilities. The bill provides that municipally owned gas or utility companies, electric public utilities having less than 10,000 customers, and electric cooperative corporations and associations shall not be subject to the regulation authority of the board except for the assessment of fees for the support of the office of consumer advocate, safety standards, assigned areas of service, public utility railroad crossings, procedures for the disconnection of service, alternative energy program plans filed with the board, specified civil penalties, energy cost information, distributed generation interconnection safety, utility-owned exterior flood lighting, customer contribution funds, and electric power generation and transmission under Code chapter 476A and electric transmission lines under Code chapter 478. 21. This provision is inapplicable to municipal utilities. The bill provides that an electric cooperative not subject to rate regulation may elect to have their rates regulated by the board. After two years, rate regulation may be reconsidered. If the membership of the electric cooperative chooses to have the rates regulated, only the membership may elect to be exempt from regulation.103. The bill provides that electric public utilities with less than 10,000 customers and electric cooperative corporations and associations shall not make or grant any unreasonable preferences or advantages as to rates or services to any person or subject any person to any unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage.6. The bill establishes a written complaint and response process. Both the board and the division of the office of the consumer advocate may determine if the utility’s response is inadequate and initiate further action. The bill establishes practices and procedures for a formal action filed by complainants. The bill provides that the board shall adopt rules establishing procedures and requirements for public utilities supplying gas or electricity and to utilities over which the board’s jurisdiction is limited by the bill relating to the disconnection of service. These rules must be uniform for all rate-regulated public utilities.
Senate subcommittee
Named February 9, 2022 (as SSB 3125). On February 15, 2022 it recommended amendment and passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
Iowa Code it changes
Amends§364.3§476.1A§476.2§476.20§476.58
Repeals§476.1B
Lobbying
4 for · 4 against · 14 undecided · Who →
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89th General Assembly