Iowa Utilities Board
TheIowa Utilities Board(IUB) is a three-memberpublic utilities commission,with beginnings in 1878. It is a quasi-judicial tribunal, which regulates services and rates of electric, natural gas, water and telecommunication providers, as well as all pipelines and transmission lines in theU.S. stateofIowaand has existed with its present name since 1986.
History
[edit]1878–1986
[edit]In 1878 theIowa Board of Railroad Commissionerswas founded, whose three members were publicly elected for a two-year term. In 1911, anOffice of Commerce Counselwas established within, which with increasing electrification took on the regulation oftransmission lines.In 1937, it was renamed theIowa State Commerce Commission.[1]
It was only in 1963 that the regulation of rates and services of allpublic utilitycompanies (electricity, natural gas, water and telecommunications) became Iowa State Commerce Commission tasks. At the same time, the legislature extended commissioner terms to six years and the positions became appointed. In 1986, the state renamed the commission as "Iowa Utilities Board".[1]
21 st century
[edit]In August 2023, the IUB held hearings regarding Summit Carbon Solutions proposal to build 700 miles ofcarbon capturepipeline in Iowa for carbon generated byethanol plantsto underground storage in North Dakota.,[2]one of three companies planning such a project.[3]In June 2024, the IUB approved the controversial Summit pipeline includingeminent domainto force non cooperative landowners.[4]
Authority
[edit]The Iowa Utilities Board regulates rates and services ofelectric utilities,natural gas utilityandwater utilities,and a some telecommunication companies per Iowa Code chapters 476 through 479B.[5]It supervises all pipelines andtransmission lines,and the sale and distribution of electricity. In addition it has various connected authorities like resolving disputes and dealing with complaints, enforcing safety as far as engineering standards go.[6]
Electric utilities
[edit]The IUB regulates service and rates of the 2 Iowa electric companies,MidAmerican EnergyandInterstate Power and Light Company(IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Company and also theRural Electric Cooperatives(RECs). The latter can choose to be regulated for rates and only theLinn County, IowaREC has chosen to do so.[6]
Waterworks
[edit]The IUB regulates rates and service of only the Iowa-American Water Company, which operates inDavenport, IowaandClinton, Iowa.It neither regulates small, nor municipally owned water utilities.[6]
Communications utilities
[edit]The IUB regulates only the service oflandline telephoneproviders in Iowa, and neither regulates cellphone providers, nor any rates. Since 2007 it issue cable television franchise agreements.[6]
Pipelines
[edit]The IUB decides about the building and maintenance of all pipelines, whether they carry gas, oil or carbon (Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Permit).
Members
[edit]Members are appointed by theGovernor of Iowafor 6-year terms. As of 2016[update]the IUB consisted ofLibby Jacobs,Nick WagnerwithGeri Huseras chairwoman.[7] As of 2023[update]the IUB consisted ofRichard W. Lozier, Jr.andJoshua ByrneswithGeri Huseras chairwoman.[8]
As of 2015, Huser has been described as "businessfriendly".[9] In 2017, there was a petition to remove Lozier because of connections toEnergy Transfer Partnersduring the time when theDakota Access pipelinewas being deliberated.[8]
Board members since the board's inception in 1986 are listed in the table per its website.[10]
| Term | Name | Function | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–1997 | Nancy Shimanek Boyd | ||
| 1988–1994 | Dennis Nagel | ||
| 1991–1999 | Emmit George | ||
| 1995–2001 | Allan T. Thoms | ||
| 1997–1999 | Paula Dierenfeld | ||
| 1999–2001 | Susan Frye | ||
| 1999–2007 | Diane Munns | ||
| 2001–2005 | Mark O. Lambert | ||
| 2002–2005 | Elliott G. Smith | ||
| 2005–2009 | John R. Norris | ||
| 2005–2007 | Curtis W. Stamp | ||
| 2007–2011 | Krista K. Tanner | ||
| 2007–2013 | Darrell Hanson | Republican | |
| 2009–2011 | Robert Berntsen | ||
| 2011–2013 | Swati Dandekar | Democratic | |
| 2013–2015 | Sheila Tipton | ||
| 2011–2017 | Libby Jacobs | interim chair May 1, 2011 - April 30, 2015 | Republican |
| 2013–2020 | Nick Wagner | Republican | |
| 2015–2023 | Geri Huser | chair | Democratic |
| 2017-2023 | Richard W. Lozier, Jr. | ||
| 2020-2025 | Joshua Byrnes | Republican | |
| 2023-2029 | Erik Helland | chair | Republican |
| 2023-2027 | Sarah M. Martz |
Court cases
[edit]- Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission (2002)
- Sprint Communications, Inc. v. Jacobs,began in 2011[11]
- Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities v. Iowa Utilities Board, 2014[11]
- Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board, 2014[12]
- Great Lakes Communication Corporation v. IUB, began in 2015[11]
References
[edit]- ^abHistory of the Iowa Utilities BoardIowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^"Opinion: Summit's clout is winning out".The Gazettte.2023-08-26.Retrieved2023-08-30.
- ^Eller, Donnelle."What we know about three carbon capture pipelines proposed in Iowa".desmoinesregister.Retrieved2023-08-30.
- ^Kauffman, Clark (2024-06-25)."Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline".Iowa Capital Dispatch.Retrieved2024-06-26.
- ^Iowa Code,Iowa General Assembly, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^abcdJurisdiction and Regulatory Authority of the Iowa Utilities BoardIowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^Board membersIowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ab"Petition to Remove Richard W. Lozier, Jr., from the Iowa Utilities Board – Bold Iowa".Retrieved2023-02-13.
- ^Ryan J. Foley,Gov. Branstad taps new chair for Iowa Utilities Board.Associated Press, March 11, 2015
- ^Past Commissioners/Board MembersIowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^abcCourt proceedingsIowa Utilities Board, 14 March 2016, retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board