1997 SUMMARY OF LEGISLATION

ENERGY AND PUBLIC UTILITIES

ENERGY AND PUBLIC UTILITIES LEGISLATION

HOUSE FILE 229 - Electric Transmission Lines — Map Relating to Franchise Extension (full text of act)

BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND REGULATION. This Act provides that a person owning a franchise for electric transmission lines who files for an extension of the franchise for all lines in a given county or counties, in lieu of a general description of the lands and highways traversed by the lines, may offer to provide an interested person, free of charge and within 10 working days, a current, accurate map showing the location of the lines relating to the franchise extension.
A public notice is required, with respect to the franchise extension, that must advise the citizens of the county or counties affected of the availability of such map. The Act strikes language that the franchiser owner, in lieu of the general description, may have on file at its offices a current, accurate map showing the location of the lines relating to the franchise extension.

HOUSE FILE 552 - Notice Requirements for Certain Electric Transmission Lines (full text of act)

BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND REGULATION. This Act strikes the requirement that the Utilities Board within the Utilities Division of the Department of Commerce prescribe the contents of a written notice and map to be filed with the board and certain other individuals regarding the location of construction of a proposed electric transmission line, wire or cable. This requirement currently applies to a transmission line, wire or cable capable of operating only at an electric voltage of less than 34.5 kilovolts. Under the Act, this notice and map would no longer be filed with the board.

HOUSE FILE 596 - Regulation of Municipal Telecommunications Utilities (full text of act)

BY COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE AND REGULATION. This Act authorizes a utilities board to grant certificates of public convenience and necessity to municipal utilities providing local exchange services. The Act includes a municipal utility providing local exchange services within the definition of a "competitive local exchange service provider," and subjects such municipal utilities to Code provisions relating to competitive local exchange service providers. The Act provides that approval by the voters of a city, pursuant to Code Chapter 388, of a proposal to establish or acquire a public utility providing communications services is conclusive evidence of the city's technical, financial and managerial ability to provide such service.
The Act takes effect April 23, 1997, and is retroactively applicable to October 18, 1994.

RELATED LEGISLATION

SENATE FILE 82 -- Appropriations — Energy Conservation — Petroleum Overcharge Funds

(Complete summary under APPROPRIATIONS)

This Act appropriates moneys for FY 1997-1998 from the Energy Conservation Trust, which receives deposits of settlements from oil overcharge refunds, to the Division of Community Action Agencies of the Department of Human Rights for energy conservation programs for low-income persons and to the Department of Natural Resources for the state energy program and for administration of petroleum overcharge programs.

SENATE FILE 190 -- Easements on State Land

(Complete summary under STATE GOVERNMENT)

This Act directs the Natural Resource Commission to adopt rules for granting easements to political subdivisions and utility companies on state land under the jurisdiction of the Department of Natural Resources.

SENATE FILE 240 -- Federal Block Grant Appropriations

(Complete summary under APPROPRIATIONS)

This Act appropriates federal block grant and other nonstate moneys to various state agencies for the federal fiscal year beginning October 1, 1997, and ending September 30, 1998, and for the state fiscal year beginning July 1, 1997, and ending June 30, 1998. The Act includes more than $18 million in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

HOUSE FILE 178 -- Sanitary Districts and City Utilities — Accounts — Sewer Connection Fees

(Complete summary under LOCAL GOVERNMENT)

This Act allows sanitary districts and city utilities to provide joint services to collect sewer and water fees and to discontinue sewer and water services to delinquent users. Sanitary districts may also impose connection fees to finance capital improvements.

Iowa General Assembly

Search: Site

Comments? webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.

Last update: Thur July 24, 1997
sw/