Senate File 279 - Reprinted





                                       SENATE FILE       
                                       BY  COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE

                                       (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 1250)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act providing for the establishment of an abbreviated electric
  2    transmission franchise process, and providing an effective
  3    date.
  4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  5 TLSB 2355SV 83
  6 rn/nh/5

PAG LIN



  1  1    Section 1.  Section 478.1, Code 2009, is amended by adding
  1  2 the following new subsection:
  1  3    NEW SUBSECTION.  5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of
  1  4 this chapter, if an existing transmission line, wire, or cable
  1  5 is operating at thirty=four and one=half kilovolts, it may be
  1  6 franchised, rebuilt, and upgraded to be capable of operation
  1  7 at sixty=nine kilovolts using an abbreviated franchise process
  1  8 if the upgraded line will meet required safety standards, will
  1  9 be on substantially the same right=of=way, and will have
  1 10 substantially the same effect on the underlying properties.
  1 11 The abbreviated franchise process shall not require published
  1 12 notice or a public informational meeting.  The board may adopt
  1 13 rules defining relevant terms, setting forth the steps of the
  1 14 abbreviated process, and specifying the requirements for the
  1 15 petition and landowner notification.  The franchise may be
  1 16 granted if the board finds the upgraded line is necessary to
  1 17 serve a public use and represents a reasonable relationship to
  1 18 an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public
  1 19 interest.  The franchise shall not become effective until the
  1 20 petitioner has paid, or agreed to pay, all costs and expenses
  1 21 of the franchise proceeding specified in section 478.4.
  1 22    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act, being deemed of
  1 23 immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
  1 24 SF 279
  1 25 rn/nh/jh/26