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 1878–1986 In 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.History of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
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".
21 st century In 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., one of three companies planning such a project. In June 2024, the IUB approved the controversial Summit pipeline including eminent domain to force non cooperative landowners.
Authority The Iowa Utilities Board regulates rates and services of electric utilities, natural gas utility and water utilities, and some telecommunication companies per Iowa Code chapters 476 through 479B.Iowa Code, Iowa General Assembly, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016 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.Jurisdiction and Regulatory Authority of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
Electric utilities The 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.
Waterworks The 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.
Communications utilities The 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.
Pipelines The IUB decides about the building and maintenance of all pipelines, whether they carry gas, oil or carbon (Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Permit).
Members Members are appointed by the Governor of Iowa for 6-year terms. the IUB consisted of Libby Jacobs, Nick Wagner with Geri Huser as chairwoman.Board members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016 the IUB consisted of Richard W. Lozier, Jr. and Joshua Byrnes with Geri Huser as chairwoman.
As of 2015, Huser has been described as "businessfriendly".Ryan J. Foley,Gov. Branstad taps new chair for Iowa Utilities Board. Associated Press, March 11, 2015 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.
Board members since the board's inception in 1986 are listed in the table per its website.Past Commissioners/Board Members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016 Term Name FunctionParty1987–1997Nancy Shimanek Boyd1988–1994Dennis Nagel1991–1999Emmit George1995–2001Allan T. Thoms1997–1999Paula Dierenfeld1999–2001Susan Frye1999–2007Diane Munns2001–2005Mark O. Lambert2002–2005Elliott G. Smith2005–2009John R. Norris2005–2007Curtis W. Stamp2007–2011Krista K. Tanner2007–2013Darrell Hanson Republican2009–2011Robert Berntsen 2011–2013Swati Dandekar Democratic2013–2015Sheila Tipton 2011–2017 Libby Jacobs interim chair May 1, 2011 - April 30, 2015Republican2013–2020 Nick Wagner Republican2015–2023 Geri Huser chair Democratic2017-2023 Richard W. Lozier, Jr. 2020-2025 Joshua Byrnes Republican2023-2029 Erik Helland chairRepublican2023-2027 Sarah M. Martz
Court cases Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission (2002) Sprint Communications, Inc. v. Jacobs, began in 2011Court proceedings Iowa Utilities Board, 14 March 2016, retrieved 18 March 2016 Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities v. Iowa Utilities Board, 2014 Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board, 2014Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board Great Lakes Communication Corporation v. IUB, began in 2015
References
External links Iowa Utilities Board Website