Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 199 - Utilities Commission
Chapter 11 - Electric Lines
Rule 199-11.4 - Informational Meetings

Universal Citation: IA Admin Code 199-11.4

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 13, December 25, 2024

Not less than 30 days or more than two years prior to filing a petition or related petitions requesting a franchise for a new transmission line with one or more miles of the total proposed route across privately owned real estate, the electric company shall hold an informational meeting in each county in which real property or real property rights will be affected. An informational meeting is required to be held in each county where property rights will be affected regardless of the length of the portion of the proposed transmission line in a county. The length of easements required for conductor and crossarm overhang of private property, even if no supporting structures are located on that property, shall be included in determining whether an informational meeting is required pursuant to Iowa Code section 478.2.

(1) Facilities. Electric companies filing a petition for franchise shall be responsible for all negotiations and compensation for a suitable facility to be used for each informational meeting, including but not limited to a building or facility which is in substantial compliance with any applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Standards for Accessible Design, including both Title III regulations at 28 CFR Part 36, Subpart D, and the 2004 ADA Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) at 36 CFR Part 1191, Appendices B and D (as amended through September 2, 2020), where such a building or facility is reasonably available.

(2) Location. The informational meeting location shall be reasonably accessible to all persons who may be affected by the granting of a franchise in that county or who have an interest in the proposed transmission line.

(3) Personnel. At the informational meeting, qualified personnel representing the electric company shall make a presentation that includes the following information:

a. Utility service requirements and planning which have resulted in the proposed construction.

b. When the transmission line will be constructed.

c. In general terms, the physical construction, appearance and typical location of poles and conductors with respect to property lines.

d. In general terms, the rights which the electric company shall seek to acquire by easements.

e. Procedures to be followed in contacting affected persons with whom the electric company may seek specific negotiations in acquiring voluntary easements.

f. Methods and factors used in arriving at an offered price for voluntary easements including the range of cash amount of each component. An example of an offer sheet shall be included as part of the presentation.

g. The manner in which voluntary easement payments are made, including discussion of conditional easements, signing fees, and time of payment.

h. Other factors or damages which are not included in the easement but for which compensation is made, including features of interest to affected persons but not limited to computation of amounts and manner of payment.

i. If the undertaking is a joint effort by more than one electric company, all of the electric companies involved in the project shall be represented at the informational meeting by qualified personnel able to speak on the matters required by this subrule.

(4) Commission approval. An electric company proposing to schedule an informational meeting shall file a request with the commission to schedule the informational meeting and shall include a proposed date and time for the informational meeting, an alternate date and time, and a general description of the proposed project and route. The commission shall notify the electric company within ten days from the filing of the request whether the request is approved or alternate dates and times are required. Not less than 30 days prior to the informational meeting, the electric company shall file with the commission the location of the informational meeting and a map of the proposed route that includes the notification corridor. Once a date and time for the informational meeting have been approved and not less than 14 days prior to the informational meeting, the electric company shall file a copy of the informational meeting presentation with the commission.

(5) Notice of informational meeting. Notice of each informational meeting shall be provided by certified mail, return receipt requested, to those persons listed on the tax assessment rolls as responsible for payment of real estate taxes on the property and persons in possession of or residing on the property within the notification corridor where the proposed transmission line will be located. The notification corridor includes any property over which the electric company may seek easements. Not less than 30 days prior to the date of the informational meeting, a copy of the notice shall be filed with the commission and the notice shall be deposited in the U.S. mail by the electric company.

a. The notice shall include the following:
(1) The name of the electric company;

(2) The electric company's principal place of business;

(3) The general description and purpose of the proposed project;

(4) The general nature of the right-of-way desired;

(5) The possibility that the right-of-way may be acquired by condemnation if approved by the commission;

(6) A map showing the route of the proposed project and the notification corridor;

(7) A description of the process used by the commission in making a decision on whether to approve a franchise, including the right to take property by eminent domain;

(8) A statement that affected persons have a right to be present at the informational meeting and to file objections with the commission;

(9) Designation of the time and place of the meeting;

(10) The following statement: Persons with disabilities requiring assistive services or devices to observe or participate should contact the Utilities Commission at (515)725-7300 in advance of the scheduled date to request accommodations; and

(11) A copy of the statement of damages as described in subrule 11.9(5).

b. The electric company shall cause the meeting notice, including the map, to be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in each county where the proposed line is to be located. The notice shall be published at least one week and not more than three weeks prior to the date of the meeting. Publication shall be considered notice to landowners and persons in possession of or residing on the property whose addresses are not known.

c. The electric company shall file prior to the informational meeting an affidavit that describes the good-faith effort the electric company undertook to locate the addresses of persons listed on the tax assessment rolls as responsible for payment of real estate taxes imposed on the property within the notification corridor where the proposed transmission line is to be located and those persons in possession of or residing on the property. The affidavit shall be signed by an officer of the electric company.

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