Relating to electric transmission lines and electric transmission owners, and including effective date and applicability provisions

This bill relates to electric transmission lines and electric transmission owners.16, identifying Iowa consumers’ urgent need for development and investment in high-voltage transmission. The bill provides that an incumbent electric transmission owner may be formed, located, or headquartered in any state as long as the electric transmission line is located in Iowa. Under the bill, an existing electric transmission facility owner has the right to construct, own, and maintain an electric transmission line that directly connects to the electric transmission facility. If a proposed transmission line would directly connect to facilities owned by two or more facility owners, each owner has the right to construct, own, and maintain the electric transmission line individually and equally. After July 1, 2020, approved electric transmission lines not subject to right of first refusal in a federally registered planning authority transmission plan shall give notice to the Iowa utilities board (board) whether the incumbent electric transmission owner or owners intend to construct, own, and maintain the electric transmission line. The notice shall be given within the later of days of approval for construction or days after enactment of the bill. The board may determine whether another person may construct the electric transmission line if the incumbent electric transmission owner or owners give notice declining to construct or do not give timely notice. The bill takes effect upon enactment. The bill applies retroactively to July 1, 2020, for an electric transmission line approved for construction in a federally registered planning authority transmission plan.