House File 78 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE
BY LUKAN
Passed House, Date Passed Senate, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to the removal of electric transmission or gas
2 pipeline equipment and facilities under specified
3 circumstances.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
5 TLSB 1769YH 83
6 rn/nh/8
PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 478.19, unnumbered paragraph 1, Code
1 2 2009, is amended to read as follows:
1 3 Such lines shall be built of strong and proper wires
1 4 attached to strong and sufficient supports properly insulated
1 5 at all points of attachment; all wires, poles, and other
1 6 devices which by ordinary wear or other causes are no longer
1 7 safe shall be removed and replaced by new wires, poles, or
1 8 other devices, as the case may be,; and all abandoned wires,
1 9 poles, or other devices, or nonoperating or disconnected
1 10 wires, poles, or other devices not subject to replacement or
1 11 reconnection, shall be at once removed. Where wires carrying
1 12 current are carried across, either above or below wires used
1 13 for other service, the said transmission line shall be
1 14 constructed in such manner as to eliminate, so far as
1 15 practicable, damages to persons or property by reason of said
1 16 crossing. There shall also be installed sufficient devices to
1 17 automatically shut off electric current through said
1 18 transmission line whenever connection is made whereby current
1 19 is transmitted from the wires of said transmission line to the
1 20 ground, and there shall also be provided a safe and modern
1 21 improved device for the protection of said line against
1 22 lightning. The utilities board shall have power to make and
1 23 enforce such further and additional rules relating to
1 24 location, construction, operation and maintenance of said
1 25 transmission line as may be reasonable. The board shall by
1 26 rule establish requirements regarding the length of time
1 27 following abandonment, or nonoperation or disconnection of
1 28 service with no intention of replacement or reconnection,
1 29 after which wires, poles, or devices shall be removed.
1 30 Sec. 2. Section 479.48, subsection 4, Code 2009, is
1 31 amended to read as follows:
1 32 4. Upon reversion of the easement, the landowner may
1 33 require the pipeline company to remove any pipe or pipeline
1 34 facility remaining on the property. Provisions of this
1 35 chapter relating to damages shall apply when the pipeline is
2 1 removed. The board shall by rule establish requirements
2 2 regarding the length of time following a request for removal
2 3 by the landowner after which the pipe or pipeline facility
2 4 shall be removed.
2 5 EXPLANATION
2 6 This bill modifies provisions requiring electric utilities
2 7 to remove abandoned electric transmission wires, poles, or
2 8 other devices, and requiring the owner of a right=of=way
2 9 easement regarding operation of a gas pipeline which has
2 10 reverted to remove the pipe or pipeline facility upon request
2 11 by a landowner. The bill provides that the Iowa utilities
2 12 board shall by rule establish requirements regarding the
2 13 length of time following abandonment of electric transmission
2 14 wires, poles, or other devices after which removal must take
2 15 place, and adds nonoperation and disconnection to the removal
2 16 provision requirements. Similarly, the bill provides that the
2 17 board shall establish requirements regarding the length of
2 18 time following a request for removal upon reversion of an
2 19 easement for gas pipeline operation after which removal must
2 20 take place.
2 21 LSB 1769YH 83
2 22 rn/nh/8