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Mission: The Iowa Utilities Board regulates utilities to ensure that reasonably priced, reliable, environmentally responsible, and safe utility services are available to all Iowans.
Vision: The Iowa Utilities Board is valued as the regulatory expert and solutions-oriented partner regarding utility issues.
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The Iowa Utilities Board newsletter is produced by IUB staff and provides information to Iowans and utility industry stakeholders about various dockets, programs, and functions of the IUB. The IUB newsletter is published quarterly.
IUB Reviewing Utilities' Winter Preparedness Plans
On December 1, 2022, the IUB issued an order that requested information on Iowa electric utilities’ plans for addressing potential electric service load shedding on peak usage days for the upcoming winter season. The IUB is taking this action following a federal report issued in November that indicates a large portion of the North American Bulk Power System is at risk of insufficient electricity supplies during peak winter conditions.
The assessment is based on data from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). The IUB request also asks electric utilities to explain how they intend to notify customers in the event of a peak demand day this winter.
The IUB's order opened Docket No. INU-2022-0002 to address the issues and included a set of questions for the utilities to answer by December 14. The utilities filed replies to the IUB's questions by the required deadline. A technical conference was held on December 19 to allow the utilities to share their plans and answer further questions from the IUB. The IUB is reviewing the information filed by the utilities and what was discussed at the technical conference to determine potential next steps in the docket.
Utility Annual Reports Now Available
Utility annual reports will be completed again this year in IUB 24/7, a self-service portal for companies and utilities to maintain their company and contact information with the IUB. Read more about utility annual reports on the IUB’s website.
The utility annual reports covering calendar year 2022 are now available in IUB 24/7 in your company’s record. The company administrators and annual report submitters are able to see and edit the annual report information and should have received system notifications that the reports are available. The filing deadline is April 1 for all companies required to submit utility annual reports.
If you have any questions about the annual reports covering calendar year 2022 or your company in IUB 24/7, please contact customer service at ITsupport@iub.iowa.gov or 877.565.4450 during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
IUB FY 2023 Billing Rates Established
The IUB is funded in part by utility companies under its regulatory jurisdiction. To collect operational revenues, the IUB issues direct bills to all parties associated with billable dockets under Iowa Code 476.10. The IUB finalized its FY 23 billing rates at its November monthly public Board meeting.
“Billable dockets” are projects with associated costs paid by outside parties. IUB staff charge applicable time and expenses to billable dockets and these costs are directly invoiced to the parties responsible.
To ensure uniform and fair billing to all parties, the IUB annually calculates billing rates for each job classification. These billing rates are used to charge time to utilities and state agencies through quarterly direct invoices and are calculated to include direct salary, fringe benefits and overhead costs.
Iowa's Electric Profile Data Updated with 2021 Data
Each year, the IUB's Regulatory Analysis staff compiles data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) for use on the IUB's Iowa's Electric Profile webpage. The EIA data collects generator-level specific information about existing and planned generators and associated environmental equipment at electric power plants with 1 megawatt or greater of combined nameplate capacity.
The EIA data lags behind by a year; therefore, this is the latest data through 2021.
The following table provides a comparison between the 2020 and 2021 EIA form 860 data, showing changes in nameplate capacity.
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ELECTRIC GENERATION IN IOWA BY PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE
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2021 NAMEPLATE CAPACITY (MW)1
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PERCENT OF NAMEPLATE CAPACITY
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2020 NAMEPLATE CAPACITY (MW)1
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PERCENT OF NAMEPLATE CAPACITY
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Coal
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5,754.7
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25.13%
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5,754.7
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25.61%
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Wind
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11,804.1
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51.54%
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11,406.9
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50.76%
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Nuclear
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0.0
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0.00%
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0.0
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0.00%
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Natural Gas
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4,027.6
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17.58%
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4,215.04
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18.76%
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Hydro
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184.4
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0.81%
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129.2
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0.57%
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Other & Other Renewables
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24.5
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0.11%
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22.0
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0.10%
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Petroleum
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990.3
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4.32%
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924.2
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4.11%
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Solar
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118.4
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0.52%
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18.4
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0.08%
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Total
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22,904.0
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100.00%
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22,470.4
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100.00%
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Year over year, the nameplate capacity of installed wind in Iowa increased 3.5%, hydro increased 42.7%, other renewables increased 11.4% and solar increased 543.5%.
The table below provides a comparison between the 2020 and 2021 EIA form 923 data, showing changes in actual generation.
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ELECTRIC GENERATION IN IOWA BY PRIMARY ENERGY SOURCE
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2021 GENERATION (MWH)2
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PERCENT OF GENERATION
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2020 GENERATION (MWH)2
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PERCENT OF GENERATION
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Coal
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22,106,594
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32.89%
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14,146,835
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23.72%
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Wind
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37,098,274
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55.20%
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34,182,302
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57.32%
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Nuclear
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0
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0.0%
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2,904,863
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4.87%
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Natural Gas
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6,463,644
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9.62%
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7,036,824
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11.80%
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Hydro
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980,071
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1.46%
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1,025,215
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1.72%
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Other & Other Renewables
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201,407
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0.30%
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207,440
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0.35%
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Petroleum
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132,111
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0.20%
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111,111
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0.19%
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Solar
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224,906
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0.33%
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22,082
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0.04%
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Total
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67,207,008
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100.00%
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59,636,672
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100.00%
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Year over year, the MWh generated in Iowa from wind increased 8.53%, coal increased by 56.27%, petroleum increased 18.9%, and solar increased 918.6%.
Dual Party Relay Service Assessment Filing Reminder
Telecommunications companies are reminded that Dual Party Relay Service (DPRS) assessment information is now submitted on an annual basis using the company/contact web application IUB 24/7.
Company DPRS reports are now available and companies required to report their revenue-producing telecommunications service phone numbers will need to complete the information covering calendar year 2022 by the April 1, 2023 annual filing deadline. The IUB will then issue invoices to the companies for the assessment amounts owed. Please see the IUB's DPRS webpage for more information.
For instructions on using IUB 24/7, see the Information About IUB 24/7 webpage. Instructions on creating a company profile in IUB 24/7 can be found on the IUB 24/7 for Telecommunications Companies webpage.
If you're unsure whether your company has filed a report with the IUB, please access your company profile in IUB 24/7, call 515.725.7300, or email iub.billings@iub.iowa.gov.
For additional information on payments, filing, reporting and more, please refer to the Telecom FAQ for IUB 24/7.
Oral Argument, Scheduling Conference held in Summit Carbon Solutions Proposed Pipeline Docket
On December 13, 2022, the IUB conducted an oral argument and scheduling conference regarding Summit Carbon Solutions LLC's petition (application) for a hazardous liquid pipeline in Docket No. HLP-2021-0001.
The oral argument was held to allow for input on the relationship between the findings the IUB must make in the docket in regard to the location of the proposed pipeline (project siting), local land use, and injury to property as compared to safety issues subject to federal jurisdiction. The IUB asked questions and received information from the participating parties.
The IUB is reviewing the information and will issue an order in the docket at a later date detailing next steps regarding Summit's petition for its proposed carbon capture pipeline project.
Leslie Cleveland Retires After 34 Years with IUB
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IUB employee Leslie Cleveland retired December 30, 2022, after more than 34 years working in state government. Leslie began her career as as state employee after graduating from Iowa State University and has worked her entire time with the IUB.
Leslie, a Utility Specialist, held multiple roles in several work groups, and her primary duties throughout her career were reviewing and analyzing filings and providing recommendations to the Board on financial issues and serving as a team lead on numerous dockets. In addition to finance, she worked on many other utility-related issues over the years, including electric restructuring, energy efficiency, net metering, advanced metering infrastructure, and utility reorganizations and acquisitions.
The IUB thanks Leslie for all her years of service and wishes her the best in her retirement.
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IUB Hearing and Meeting Calendar
Monthly public Board meetings may be attended in person or viewed via livestream. (Board meetings begin at 9 a.m.)
Public Hearings are scheduled in the following dockets:
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RPU-2022-0001 MidAmerican Energy Company: 9 am February 20-24, 2023. IUB Hearing Room, 1375 E Court Ave, Des Moines, Iowa
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GCU-2022-0004 Interstate Power and Light Company: 9 am March 21, 2023. Union County
Informational Meetings are scheduled in the following dockets:
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E-22537 MidAmerican: 5:30 pm February 8, 2023. East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd., SE, Iowa City, Iowa
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E-22534 ITC Midwest: 12:30 pm March 28, 2023. Johnson County
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E-22534 ITC Midwest: 5:30 pm March 28, 2023. Linn County
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