199—7.4 (17A,474,476) General information.
	 7.4(1) Orders. All orders will be issued and placed in the board’s records and information center. Orders shall be deemed effective upon issuance unless otherwise provided in the order. Parties and members of the public may view orders in the board’s records and information center and may also view orders (other than orders granting confidential treatment) and a daily summary of filings on the board’s Web site located at www.state.ia.us/iub.
	 7.4(2) Communications.
	  a.   	 All communications to the board or presiding officer shall be addressed to the Executive Secretary, Iowa Utilities Board, 350 Maple Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0069, unless otherwise specifically directed by the board or presiding officer. Pleadings and other papers required to be filed with the board shall be filed within the time limit, if any, for such filing. Unless otherwise specifically provided, all communications and documents are officially filed upon receipt by the executive secretary in a form that complies with the board’s filing requirements. Documents filed with the board shall comply with the requirements in 199—subrule 2.1(3). Persons filing a document with the board must comply with the service requirements in subrule 7.4(6) at the time the document is filed with the board.
	  b.   	 The board may accept filings electronically from time to time pursuant to instructions that will be delineated in the board order or other official statement authorizing those filings. See rule 7.7(17A,476) for requirements for electronic information filed with the board.
	 7.4(3) Reference to docket number. All filings made in any proceeding after the proceeding has been docketed by the board shall include on the first page a reference to the applicable docket number(s).
	 7.4(4) Number of copies.
	  a.   	 An original and ten copies are required for most initial filings in a docket made with the board. There are some exceptions, which are listed below. The board or presiding officer may request additional copies.
A = Annual Report (rate-regulated 2 copies, non-rate-regulated 1 copy)
C = Complaints filed pursuant to 199—6.2(476) (original)
CCF = Customer Contribution Fund (original + 1 copy)
E = Electric Franchise or Certificate (original + 3 copies)
EAC = Energy Adjustment Clause (original + 3 copies)
EDR = Electric Delivery Reliability (original + 3 copies)
ES = Extended Area Services (original + 2 copies)
GCU = Generating Certificate Utility (original + 20 copies)
H = Accident (original + 1 copy)
HLP = Hazardous Liquid Pipeline (original + 2 copies)
NIA = Negotiated Interconnection Agreement (original + 3 copies)
P = Pipeline Permit (original + 2 copies)
PGA = Purchased Gas Adjustment (original + 3 copies)
R = Reports-Outages (original + 1 copy)
RFU = Refund Filing Utility (original + 4 copies)
RN = Rate Notification (original + 3 copies)
TF = Tariff Filing (original + 4 copies)
	  b.   	 Unless otherwise ordered or specified in this rule, parties must file an original and ten copies of all filings including, but not limited to, pleadings and answers (rule 7.9(17A, 476)), prefiled testimony and exhibits (rule 7.10(17A,476)), motions (rule 7.12(17A,476)), petitions to intervene and responses (rule 7.13(17A,476)), proposals for settlement and responses (rule 7.18(17A,476)), stipulations (rule 7.19(17A, 476)), withdrawals (rule 7.21(17A,476)), briefs (subrule 7.23(8)), motions to vacate (subrule 7.23(11)), motions to reopen (rule 7.24(17A,476)), interlocutory appeals (rule 7.25(17A,476)), appeals from proposed decisions of the presiding officers and responses (rule 7.26(17A,476)), applications for rehearing and responses (rule 7.27(17A,476)), and requests for stay and responses (rule 7.28(17A,476)).
	  c.   	 When separate dockets are consolidated into a single case, parties shall file one extra copy for each consolidated docket, in addition to the original and the normally required number of copies. For example, if three separate dockets are consolidated into a single case, parties must file an original plus two copies plus the normally required number of copies of each document.
	  d.   	 Rule 7.23(17A,476) contains requirements regarding the required number of copies for evidence introduced at hearing and for briefs. Subrule 7.10(5) contains requirements regarding the required number of copies for workpapers and supporting documents.
	  e.   	 199—Chapter 26 contains additional requirements regarding the number of copies required to be filed in rate and tariff proceedings.
	 7.4(5) Defective filings. Only applications, pleadings, documents, testimony, and other submissions that conform to the requirements of an applicable rule, statute, or order of the board or presiding officer will be accepted for filing. Applications, pleadings, documents, testimony, and other submissions that fail to substantially conform with applicable requirements will be considered defective and may be rejected unless waiver of the relevant requirement has been granted by the board or presiding officer prior to filing. The board or presiding officer may reject a filing even though board employees have file-stamped or otherwise acknowledged receipt of the filing. If a filing is defective due only to the number of copies filed, the board’s records and information center staff may correct the shortage of copies with the permission of the filing party and the filing party’s agreement to cover all costs of reproduction.
	 7.4(6) Service of documents.
	  a.   	 Method of service. Unless otherwise specified by the board or presiding officer or otherwise agreed to by the parties, documents that are required to be served in a proceeding may be served by first-class mail or overnight delivery, properly addressed with postage prepaid, or by delivery in person. In expedited proceedings, if service is made by first-class mail instead of by overnight delivery or personal service, the sending party must supplement service by sending a copy by electronic mail or facsimile if an electronic mail address or facsimile number has been provided by the receiving party. When a document is served, the party effecting service shall file with the board proof of service in substantially the form prescribed in 199—subrule 2.2(16) or an admission of service by the party served or the party’s attorney. The proof of service shall be attached to a copy of the document served. When service is made by the board, the board will attach a service list with a certificate of service signed by the person serving the document to each copy of the document served.
	  b.   	 Date of service. Unless otherwise ordered by the board or presiding officer, the date of service shall be the day when the document served is deposited in the United States mail or overnight delivery, is delivered in person, or otherwise as the parties may agree. Although service is effective, the document is not deemed filed with the board until it is received by the board pursuant to subrule 7.4(2).
	  c.   	 Parties entitled to service. A party or other person filing a notice, motion, pleading, or other document in any proceeding shall contemporaneously serve the document on all other parties. Parties shall serve documents containing confidential information pursuant to a confidentiality agreement executed by the parties, if any. If the parties are unable to agree on a confidentiality agreement, they may ask the board or presiding officer to issue an appropriate order. A party formally filing any document or any other material with the board shall serve three copies of the document or material on the consumer advocate at the same time as the filing is made with the board and by the same delivery method used for filing with the board. “Formal filings” include, but are not limited to, all documents that are filed in a docketed proceeding, or that request initiation of a docketed proceeding. The address of the consumer advocate is Office of Consumer Advocate, 310 Maple Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0063.
	  d.   	 Service upon attorneys. When a party has appeared by attorney, service upon the attorney shall be deemed proper service upon the party.
	 7.4(7) Written appearance. Each party to a proceeding shall file a separate written appearance, substantially conforming to the form set forth in 199—subrule 2.2(15), identifying one person upon whom the board may serve all orders, correspondence, or other documents. If a party has previously designated a person to be served on the party’s behalf in all matters, filing the appearance will not change this designation, unless the party directs that the designated person be changed in the appearance. If a party files an application, petition, or other initial pleading, or an answer or other responsive pleading, containing the information that would otherwise be required in an appearance, the filing of a separate appearance is not required. The appearance may be filed with the party’s initial filing in the proceeding or may be filed after the proceeding has been docketed.
	 7.4(8) Representation by attorney at law.
	  a.   	 Any party to a proceeding before the board or a presiding officer may appear and be heard through a licensed attorney at law. If the attorney is not licensed by the state of Iowa, permission to appear must be granted by the board or presiding officer. A verified statement that contains the attorney’s agreement to submit to and comply with the Iowa Code of Professional Responsibility for Lawyers must be filed with the board and the written appearance of a resident attorney must be provided for service pursuant to Iowa Admission to the Bar rule 31.14(2).
	  b.   	 A corporation or association may appear and present evidence by an officer or employee. However, only licensed attorneys shall represent a party before the board or a presiding officer in any matter involving the exercise of legal skill or knowledge, except with the consent of the board or presiding officer. All persons appearing in proceedings before the board or a presiding officer shall conform to the standard of ethical conduct required of attorneys before the courts of Iowa.
	 7.4(9) Cross reference to public documents and confidential filings. The board’s rule regarding public documents and confidential filings is at 199—1.9(22).
	 7.4(10) Expedited proceedings.
	  a.   	 If a person claims that a statutory or other provision of law requires the board to render a decision in a contested case in six months or less, the person shall include the phrase “Expedited Proceedings Required” in the caption of the first pleading filed by the person in the proceeding. If the phrase is not so included in the caption, the board or presiding officer may find and order that the proceeding did not commence for purposes of the required time for decision until the date on which the first pleading containing the required phrase is filed or such other date that the board or presiding officer finds is just and reasonable under the circumstances.
	  b.   	 If a person claims that a statutory or other provision of law requires the board to render a decision in a contested case in six months or less, the person shall state the basis for the claim in the first pleading in which the claim is made.
	  c.   	 Shortened time limits applicable to expedited proceedings are contained in rules 7.9(17A,476) (pleadings and answers), 7.12(17A,476) (motions), 7.13(17A,476) (intervention), 7.15(17A,476) (discovery), and 7.26(17A,476) (appeals from proposed decisions). An additional service requirement applicable to expedited proceedings is contained in subrule 7.4(6) (service of documents).
	  d.   	 A party may file a motion that proceedings be expedited even though such treatment is not required by statute or other provision of law. Such voluntary expedited treatment may be granted at the board’s or presiding officer’s discretion in appropriate circumstances considering the needs of the parties and the interests of justice. In these voluntary expedited proceedings, the board or presiding officer may shorten the filing dates or other procedures established in this chapter. The shortened time limits and additional service requirement applicable to expedited proceedings established in this chapter and listed in paragraph 7.4(10)“c” do not apply to voluntary expedited proceedings under this paragraph unless ordered by the board or presiding officer.