Iowa Utilities Board

The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) is a 3-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 in the U.S. state of Iowa and has existed with its present name since 1986.

Brief history (1878–1986)

The history of the IUB begins in 1878 as the Iowa Board of Railroad Commissioners, 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. It was renamed the Iowa State Commerce Commission in 1937.[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 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]

Authority

The 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[2] 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.[3]

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.[3]

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.[3]

Waterworks

The IUB regulates rates and service of only the Iowa-American Water Company, which operates in Davenport, Iowa and Clinton, Iowa. It neither regulate small, nor municipally owned water utilities.[3]

Members

Members are appointed by the Governor of Iowa for 6-year terms. As of 2016 the IUB consists of Libby Jacobs, Nick Wagner with Geri Huser as chairwoman.[4] Huser has been described as "businessfriendly".[5]

Board members since the board's inception in 1986 are listed in the table per its website.[6]

TermNameFunctionParty
1987–1997Nancy Shimanek Boyd
1988–1994Dennis Nagel
1991–1999Emmit George
1995–2001Allan T. Thoms
1997–1999Paula Dierenfeld
1999–2001Susan Frye
1999–2007Diane Munns
2001–2005Mark O. Lambert
2002–2005Elliott G. Smith
2005–2009John R. Norris
2005–2007Curtis W. Stamp
2007–2011Krista K. Tanner
2007–2013Darrell HansonRepublican
2009–2011Robert Berntsen
2011–2013Swati DandekarDemocratic
2013–2015Sheila Tipton
2011–2017Libby Jacobsinterim chair May 1, 2011 - April 30, 2015Republican
2013–2025Nick WagnerRepublican
2015–2021Geri HuserchairDemocratic
2017-2023Richard W. Lozier, Jr

Court cases

References
  1. History of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
  2. Iowa Code, Iowa General Assembly, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
  3. Jurisdiction and Regulatory Authority of the Iowa Utilities Board Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
  4. Board members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
  5. Ryan J. Foley,Gov. Branstad taps new chair for Iowa Utilities Board. Associated Press, March 11, 2015
  6. Past Commissioners/Board Members Iowa Utilities Board, n.d., retrieved 18 March 2016
  7. Court proceedings Iowa Utilities Board, 14 March 2016, retrieved 18 March 2016
  8. Hawkeye land company v. Iowa Utilities Board
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