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House File 601 - IntroducedA Bill ForAn Act 1relating to rate increase notice requirements for public
2utilities.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 476.6, subsection 2, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
32. Written notice of increase. All public utilities,
4except those exempted from rate regulation by section 476.1
5and telecommunications service providers registered pursuant
6to section 476.95A, shall give written notice of a proposed
7increase of any rate or charge to all affected customers
8served by the public utility no more than sixty-two thirty
9 days prior to the time the application for the increase is
10filed with the board. Public utilities exempted from rate
11regulation by section 476.1, except telecommunications service
12providers registered pursuant to section 476.95A, shall give
13written notice of a proposed increase of any rate or charge to
14all affected customers served by the public utility at least
15thirty days prior to the effective date of the increase. If
16the public utility is subject to rate regulation, the written
17 notice to affected customers shall also include an estimate of
18the total bill impact on a typical customer in each affected
19customer class, provide a general explanation of the board’s
20rate increase review process, and state that the customer has a
21right to file a written objection to the rate increase and that
22the affected customers may request the board to hold a public
23hearing to determine if the rate increase should be allowed.
24The board shall prescribe the manner and method that the
25 written notice to each affected customer of the public utility
26shall be served in the manner in which the customer elects to
27receive bills and other communications from the public utility.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31This bill relates to rate increase notice requirements for
32public utilities.
33The bill modifies the date specified public utilities
34shall notify their customers of a proposed rate or charge
35increase from 62 to 30 days before the public utility files an
-1-1application with the Iowa utilities board for the proposed rate
2or charge increase. The bill provides that a notice relating
3to rate increase information shall include an estimate of the
4bill impact for a typical customer, an explanation of the Iowa
5utilities board’s rate increase review process, and that the
6customer has a right to file an objection and request a public
7hearing. The bill provides that written notice of the increase
8shall be delivered in the same method that the customer elects
9to receive bills and other communications from the utility.
10The bill removes the requirement that the Iowa utilities board
11prescribe the manner and method that the notice is to be
12served.
-2-es/rn
2utilities.
3BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
1 Section 1. Section 476.6, subsection 2, Code 2023, is
2amended to read as follows:
32. Written notice of increase. All public utilities,
4except those exempted from rate regulation by section 476.1
5and telecommunications service providers registered pursuant
6to section 476.95A, shall give written notice of a proposed
7increase of any rate or charge to all affected customers
8served by the public utility no more than sixty-two thirty
9 days prior to the time the application for the increase is
10filed with the board. Public utilities exempted from rate
11regulation by section 476.1, except telecommunications service
12providers registered pursuant to section 476.95A, shall give
13written notice of a proposed increase of any rate or charge to
14all affected customers served by the public utility at least
15thirty days prior to the effective date of the increase. If
16the public utility is subject to rate regulation, the written
17 notice to affected customers shall also include an estimate of
18the total bill impact on a typical customer in each affected
19customer class, provide a general explanation of the board’s
20rate increase review process, and state that the customer has a
21right to file a written objection to the rate increase and that
22the affected customers may request the board to hold a public
23hearing to determine if the rate increase should be allowed.
24The board shall prescribe the manner and method that the
25 written notice to each affected customer of the public utility
26shall be served in the manner in which the customer elects to
27receive bills and other communications from the public utility.
28EXPLANATION
29The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
30the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
31This bill relates to rate increase notice requirements for
32public utilities.
33The bill modifies the date specified public utilities
34shall notify their customers of a proposed rate or charge
35increase from 62 to 30 days before the public utility files an
-1-1application with the Iowa utilities board for the proposed rate
2or charge increase. The bill provides that a notice relating
3to rate increase information shall include an estimate of the
4bill impact for a typical customer, an explanation of the Iowa
5utilities board’s rate increase review process, and that the
6customer has a right to file an objection and request a public
7hearing. The bill provides that written notice of the increase
8shall be delivered in the same method that the customer elects
9to receive bills and other communications from the utility.
10The bill removes the requirement that the Iowa utilities board
11prescribe the manner and method that the notice is to be
12served.
-2-es/rn