Commerce Committee Report – week 7, 2017

SF 1Administrative rules for jobs impact statements
SSB 1004 – Municipal utility, regulations regarding service disconnection, discontinuation
SSB 1040 – Filing requirements for energy efficiency reports

 

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 1 requires that every proposed rule under a notice of intended action or publication without notice contain a jobs impact statement that outlines the purpose and statutory authority of the rule and analyzes and sets out in detail the impact on state agencies, local governments, the public and regulated entities, including businesses and self-employed individuals. The statement also must determine if a proposed rule would have a positive or negative impact on private sector jobs and employment opportunities. Before proposing a rule, an agency must take steps to minimize any adverse impact jobs and the development of new employment opportunities. An agency also must accept comments and information from stakeholders prior to the final jobs impact statement. The administrative rules coordinator may waive the jobs impact statement for rules filed using emergency rulemaking procedures.
[2/22: 50-0]

 

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SSB 1004 modifies the terminology throughout Code section 384.84(3), which relates to discontinuing services by municipally-owned utilities, by including the disconnection of services. Currently, Code section 476.1B provides that a municipally owned utility is not subject to regulation by the Iowa Utilities Board, except in specified instances, including disconnection of service. This board authority to establish rules relating to deposits, which may be required by a utility for the initiation or reinstatement of service, would not apply to municipal utilities. Current Code section 476.20(5) requires the board to establish uniform rules for public utilities with respect to deposits required for the initiation or reinstatement of service. The bill provides that this would not apply to municipal utilities, which are governed by the provisions of Code section 384.84 with respect to deposits and payment plans for delinquent amounts owed, and that municipal utilities are not subject to the board’s rules regarding deposits and payment plans for delinquent amounts owed and repayment of past due debt. A city utility may require a deposit not exceeding the usual cost of 60 days of gas and electric service.
[2/21: short form]

 

SSB 1040 streamlines federal and state energy efficiency reporting by giving electric cooperatives the option of filing a federal report with the Iowa Utilities Board to fulfill the state energy efficiency reporting requirements. This eliminates duplication of effort and reduces regulatory costs. The Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives estimates a collective savings of $75,000 to $100,000 annually for cooperatives statewide. The bill does not change the requirement that electric cooperatives report data and information about their energy efficiency programs.
[2/21: short form]