ARC 8325C

ARC 8325C

Rulemaking related to organization and operation

The Commission is rescinding existing Chapter 1 and repromulgating a new version of the chapter with updated language that better reflects current Commission procedures, removing unnecessary and unneeded language and provisions, and reducing the number of restrictive terms.

The Commission’s conditional order adopting the amendments was issued on September 30, 2024. The order is available on the Commission’s electronic filing system, efs.iowa.gov, under Docket No. RMU-2023-0001.

Notice of Intended Action for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on July 10, 2024, as ARC 8105C. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●August 21, 2024

●September 4, 2024

The Commission held two public hearings, the first of which occurred on August 21, 2024, and was attended by the Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA), a division of the Iowa Department of Justice; Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL); MidAmerican Energy Company (MidAmerican); Iowa-American Water Company (Iowa-American); and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The Commission held a second public hearing on September 4, 2024, which was attended by OCA, IPL, MidAmerican, Iowa-American, and Black Hills/Iowa Gas Utility Company, LLC d/b/a Black Hills Energy.

The attending stakeholders were supportive of the Notice, with two amendments.

The Commission received written comments from OCA and MidAmerican. OCA expressed its support for the Notice, and MidAmerican requested the insertion of an additional subparagraph in paragraph 1.7(3)“c.”

The Commission made two changes from the Notice. First, MidAmerican requested the insertion of an additional subparagraph in paragraph 1.7(3)“c.”Through collaborative efforts, stakeholders attending the public hearings were agreeable to new language to be included in subparagraph 1.7(3)“c”(19), which the Commission adopted.Second, multiple stakeholders requested the Commission expand the scope of who may sign an affidavit in support of a confidentiality request under subrule 1.7(4). The Commission expanded the scope with new language in paragraph 1.7(4)“b” allowing the affidavit to be signed by either a corporate officer or a corporate employee with personal knowledge of the underlying facts supporting the confidentiality request.

ITEM 1.Rescind 199—Chapter 1 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 1

ORGANIZATION AND OPERATION

199—1.1(17A,474) Purpose. This chapter describes the organization and operation of the Iowa utilities commission (hereinafter referred to as commission).

199—1.2(17A,474) Scope of rules. These rules apply to all matters before the commission.

199—1.3(17A,474,476) Waivers.

1.3(1) In response to a request, the commission may grant a waiver from a rule adopted by the commission, in whole or in part, as applied to a specific set of circumstances, if the commission finds, based on clear and convincing evidence, that the waiver request meets the requirements of Iowa Code section 17A.9A(2).

1.3(2) The commission may condition the grant of the waiver on such reasonable conditions as appropriate to achieve the objectives of the particular rule in question. The commission may at any time cancel a waiver upon appropriate notice and opportunity for hearing.

199—1.4(17A,474) Duties of the commission. The commission regulates the services and rates of certain electric, gas, telephone, water, sanitary sewer, and storm water drainage utilities pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 476. The commission also has jurisdiction over certification of electric power generators pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 476A, franchises for cable and video service providers pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 477A, dual party relay service pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 477C, construction and safety of electric transmission lines pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 478, and the construction and operation of pipelines and underground storage pursuant to Iowa Code chapters 479 and 479B.

199—1.5(17A,474) Organization. The commission consists of the three-member commission, the technical and administrative staff, and the general counsel. The three-member commission is the policymaking body, and the chair serves as the administrator of the commission. As administrator, the chair is responsible for all administrative functions and decisions.

199—1.6(17A,474) Matters applicable to all proceedings.

1.6(1) Communications. All communications to the commission, other than those filed through the commission’s electronic filing system, may be addressed to the Iowa Utilities Commission, 1375 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069, unless otherwise specifically directed. Unless otherwise specifically provided, all communications and documents are officially filed upon receipt and acceptance at the office of the commission.

1.6(2) Office hours. Office hours are 8 a.m.

to 4:30 p.m.

Monday through Friday. Offices are closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on official state holidays designated in accordance with state law.

199—1.7(22) Public information and inspection of records.

1.7(1) Public information. Any interested person may examine all public records of the commission by written request or in person at the commission offices. Public records may be examined at the commission office only during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Public records in docketed matters may be examined at any time using the commission’s electronic filing system. Unless otherwise provided by law, all public records, other than confidential records, maintained by the commission will be made available for public inspection.

1.7(2) Definitions.

“Confidential records” means records not available for public inspection under state law.

“Personally identifiable information” means information about or pertaining to an individual, specifically including the following unique identifiers when combined with an individual’s name: social security number or a financial account number (checking, savings, or share account number or credit, debit, or charge card number). “Personally identifiable information” does not include information pertaining to corporations.

“Public records” means records of or belonging to the commission that are necessary to the discharge of its duties.

1.7(3) Records not routinely available for public inspection. The following records are not routinely available for public inspection:

a.Material exempted from disclosure under Iowa’s open records law. Certain public records are confidential under the open records law and cannot be released unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the commission as lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.7. A person may request permission to inspect particular records withheld from inspection under this paragraph. If the request is granted, the commission shall withhold the material from public inspection for 14 days to allow the party that submitted the material an opportunity to seek injunctive relief.

b.Tax records. The commission is required to withhold tax records from public inspection pursuant to Iowa Code section 422.20.

c.Materials exempted pursuant to requests deemed granted by the commission. Requests to withhold from public inspection the materials and information listed in the subparagraphs below are deemed granted by the commission pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.7(3) or 22.7(6), or both sections, provided that the confidential portions of the filings are identified as confidential and filed as provided in 199—Chapter 14, and an attorney for the company or corporate officer avers that the material or information satisfies the requirements in Iowa Code section 22.7(3) or 22.7(6), or both sections. The material or information filed pursuant to this paragraph will be deemed confidential upon the filer’s receipt of a notice of electronic filing without further review or acknowledgement by the commission, and the material or information will be withheld from public inspection subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1.7(6)“b”(3).

(1)Negotiated transportation rates and prices for natural gas supply.

(2)Reservation charges for portfolio gas supply contracts.

(3)Terms and prices for all hedging activity, including financial hedges and weather-related information.

(4)Sales data by individual natural gas customer.

(5)Natural gas purchase volumes by individual receipt point, by pipeline.

(6)Specific gas costs included in interstate pipeline contracts and contracted volume quantities, invoices, commodity contracts, and individual commodity purchases and invoices.

(7)Design day forecasting model reserve margin calculations for natural gas service.

(8)Negotiated purchase prices for electric power, fuel, and transportation.

(9)Electric customer-specific information.

(10)Power supply bills in support of energy adjustment clause filings.

(11)Network improvement and maintenance plans and related extensions and progress reports filed with the commission pursuant to 199—Chapter 39.

(12)Wireless coverage area maps depicting signal strength filed with the commission pursuant to 199—Chapter 39.

(13)Revenue recovery amounts and loop or line count data filed with the commission pursuant to 199—Chapter 39.

(14)Financial reports and loop or line count data included in rate floor data filed with the commission pursuant to 199—Chapter 39.

(15)Loop or line count data included in rate floor data updates filed with the commission pursuant to 199—Chapter 39.

(16)The financial records filed by applicants for certificates of convenience and necessity to provide competitive local exchange service.

(17)The financial records, number of customers, and volumes filed by competitive natural gas providers in each company’s annual report. The aggregate total sales volume is not granted confidential treatment by this subparagraph.

(18)The financial information regarding affiliate transactions required for rate-regulated utilities. This information is subject to staff and legal review to ensure the information protected is similar to other information included in this subparagraph.

(19)Information filed in a particular docket that is of the same type, nature, and scope as information for which the commission previously granted confidentiality in that same docket.

1.7(4) Requests that materials or information submitted to the commission be withheld from public inspection. Any person submitting information or materials to the commission may submit a request that part or all of the information or materials not be made available for public inspection pursuant to the following requirements. Persons filing material in the commission’s electronic filing system shall redact protected information as defined in Iowa Rules of Electronic Procedure 16.602 and 16.603.

a.Marked pages. Each page of the materials to which the request applies shall be marked confidential.

b.Content of request. The request shall contain a statement of the legal basis for withholding the materials from inspection and the supporting facts. The facts shall be supported by an affidavit from a corporate officer or employee (or an individual, if not a business entity) with personal knowledge of the specific facts.

c.Compliance. If a request complies with the requirements of paragraphs 1.7(4)“a” and “b,” the materials will be temporarily withheld from public inspection. The commission will examine the information to determine whether the information should be afforded confidentiality. If the request is granted, the ruling will be placed in a public file in lieu of the materials withheld from public inspection. If no objection to the request for confidential treatment is filed within 20 days, the commission may defer consideration of the request until a public records request is made for the material or information, and the material or information shall be withheld from public inspection subject to the provisions of subparagraph 1.7(6)“b”(3).

d.Request denied. If a request for confidentiality is denied, the information will be held confidential for 14 days to allow the applicant an opportunity to seek injunctive relief. After the 14 days expire, the materials will be available for public inspection unless the commission is directed by a court to keep the information confidential.

1.7(5) Procedures for the physical inspection of commission records that are routinely available for public inspection. The records in question will be reasonably described by the person requesting them to permit their location by staff personnel. Members of the public will not be given access to the area in which records are kept and will not be permitted to search the files. Advance requests to have records available on a certain date may be made by telephone or by correspondence.

a.Search fees. An hourly fee may be charged for searching for requested records. The fee will be based upon the pay scale of the employee who makes the search. No search fee will be charged if the records are not located, the records are not made available for inspection, or the search does not exceed one-quarter hour in duration.

b.Written request. Written requests should list the telephone number (if any) of the person making the request and, for each document requested, should set out all available information that would assist in identifying and locating the document. The request should also set out the maximum search fee the person making the request is prepared to pay. If the maximum search fee is reached before all of the requested documents have been located and copied, the requesting person will be notified. When the requesting person requests that the commission mail copies of the materials, postage and handling expenses should also be included.

c.Procedure for written request. The records will be produced for inspection at the earliest possible date following a request. Records should be inspected within seven days after notice is given that the records have been located and are available for inspection. After seven days, the records will be returned to storage and additional charges may be imposed for having to produce them again.

d.Copies. Copies of public records may be made in the commission’s records and information center.

1.7(6) Procedures for the inspection of commission records that are not routinely available for public inspection. Any person may request access to records that are not routinely available for public inspection. The following procedures shall apply:

a.Content of request. The request shall include a description of the records requested.

b.Procedure. The commission may take action on the request as follows:

(1)Deny the request with an explanatory statement, if the commission is prohibited from disclosing the records or has determined the requested material is confidential.

(2)Redact any part of the document that the commission is prohibited from disclosing and disclose the remainder.

(3)Notify the interested persons, and withhold the materials from public inspection for 14 days to allow the party who submitted the materials an opportunity to seek injunctive relief.

1.7(7) Procedures by which the filer of a confidential record may have a copy released to a named third party. The filer of a confidential record may request in writing that a confidential record be released to a named third party.

1.7(8) Advice and assistance. Individuals who have questions regarding the procedures contained in these rules may contact the commission at the following address: Iowa Utilities Commission, 1375 East Court Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069.

1.7(9) Data processing system. As required by Iowa Code section 22.11(1)“g,” the commission does not currently have a data processing system that matches, collates, or permits the comparison of personally identifiable information in one record system with personally identifiable information on another record system.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code sections 17A.3, 474.1, 474.5, 474.10, 476.1, and 476.2.

[Filed 10/11/24, effective 12/4/24]

[Published 10/30/24]

EDITOR’S NOTE: For replacement pages for IAC, see IAC Supplement 10/30/24.