The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) is a three-member public 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 the U.S. state of Iowa and has existed with its present name since 1986.
History
edit1878–1986
editIn 1878 the Iowa Board of Railroad Commissioners was founded, whose three members were publicly elected for a two-year term. In 1911, an Office of Commerce Counsel was established within, which with increasing electrification took on the regulation of transmission lines. In 1937, it was renamed the Iowa State Commerce Commission.[1]
It was only in 1963 that the regulation of rates and services of all public utility companies (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
editIn August 2023, the IUB held hearings regarding Summit Carbon Solutions proposal to build 700 miles of carbon capture pipeline in Iowa for carbon generated by ethanol plants to 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 including eminent domain to force non cooperative landowners.[4]
Authority
editThe Iowa Utilities Board regulates rates and services of electric utilities, natural gas utility and water utilities, and a some telecommunication companies per Iowa Code chapters 476 through 479B.[5] It supervises all pipelines and transmission 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
editThe IUB regulates service and rates of the 2 Iowa electric companies, MidAmerican Energy and Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), a subsidiary of Alliant Energy Company and also the Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs). The latter can choose to be regulated for rates and only the Linn County, Iowa REC has chosen to do so.[6]
Waterworks
editThe IUB regulates rates and service of only the Iowa-American Water Company, which operates in Davenport, Iowa and Clinton, Iowa. It neither regulates small, nor municipally owned water utilities.[6]
Communications utilities
editThe IUB regulates only the service of landline telephone providers in Iowa, and neither regulates cellphone providers, nor any rates. Since 2007 it issue cable television franchise agreements.[6]
Pipelines
editThe IUB decides about the building and maintenance of all pipelines, whether they carry gas, oil or carbon (Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Permit).
Members
editMembers are appointed by the Governor of Iowa for 6-year terms. As of 2016[update] the IUB consisted of Libby Jacobs, Nick Wagner with Geri Huser as chairwoman.[7] As of 2023[update] the IUB consisted of Richard W. Lozier, Jr. and Joshua Byrnes with Geri Huser as chairwoman.[8]
As of 2015, Huser has been described as "businessfriendly".[9] In 2017, there was a petition to remove Lozier because of connections to Energy Transfer Partners during the time when the Dakota Access pipeline was 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- ^ a b History of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ "Opinion: Summit's clout is winning out". The Gazettte. 2023-08-26. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ Eller, Donnelle. "What we know about three carbon capture pipelines proposed in Iowa". desmoinesregister. Retrieved 2023-08-30.
- ^ Kauffman, Clark (2024-06-25). "Iowa Utilities Board approves permit for controversial Summit pipeline". Iowa Capital Dispatch. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ Iowa Code, Iowa General Assembly, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ a b c d Jurisdiction and Regulatory Authority of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ Board members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ a b "Petition to Remove Richard W. Lozier, Jr., from the Iowa Utilities Board – Bold Iowa". Retrieved 2023-02-13.
- ^ Ryan J. Foley,Gov. Branstad taps new chair for Iowa Utilities Board. Associated Press, March 11, 2015
- ^ Past Commissioners/Board Members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ a b c Court proceedings Iowa Utilities Board, 14 March 2016, retrieved 18 March 2016
- ^ Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board