Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-11.5

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 199-11.5 - Petition for a new franchise

A single docket will be assigned to a proposed transmission line even if the transmission line will be located in more than one county. The electric company may request one franchise for the entire transmission line or may request separate franchises in each county where the proposed transmission line is to be located.

(1)Petition and exhibits. A petition for a new franchise shall be filed on forms prescribed by the commission, shall be notarized, and shall have all required exhibits attached. Exhibits in addition to those required by this rule may be attached when appropriate. The petition shall be attested to by an officer, official, or attorney with authority to represent the electric company. The following exhibits shall be filed with the petition:

a.Exhibit A. A legal description of the route. The description shall include the name of the county, the maximum and nominal voltages, the beginning point and endpoint of the transmission line, and whether the route is on public, private, or railroad right-of-way. In the case of multicounty projects, the description shall identify all counties involved in the total project and the termini located in other counties. When the route is in or adjacent to the right-of-way of a named road or a railroad, the exhibit shall specifically identify the road or railroad by name.

b.Exhibit B.

(1) A map showing the route of the transmission line drawn with reasonable accuracy considering the scale. The map may be to any scale appropriate for the level of detail to be shown but may not be smaller than one inch to the mile and shall be legible when printed on paper no larger than 11 by 17 inches. The following minimum information shall be provided:

1. The route of the transmission line which is the subject of the petition, including beginning point and endpoint and, when the transmission line is parallel to a road or railroad, which side the line is on. Line sections with multiple-circuit construction or underbuild shall be designated. The voltage at which other circuits are operated and ownership of other circuits or underbuild shall be indicated.

2. The name of the county, county and section lines, section numbers, and township and range numbers.

3. The location and identity of roads, named streams and bodies of water, and any other pertinent natural or man-made features or landmarks influencing the route.

4. The names and corporate limits of cities.

5. The names and boundaries of any public lands or parks, recreational areas, preserves or wildlife refuges.

6. All electric lines, including lines owned by the electric company, within six-tenths of a mile of the route, including the voltage at which the lines are operated, whether the lines are overhead or buried, and the names and addresses of the owners. Any electric lines to be removed or relocated shall be designated.

7. The location of railroad rights-of-way, including the names and addresses of the owners.

8. The location of airports or landing strips within one mile of the route, along with the names and addresses of the owners.

9. The location of pipelines used for the transportation of any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance, except water, within six-tenths of a mile of the route, along with the names and addresses of the owners.

10. The names and addresses of the owners of telephone, communication, or cable television lines within six-tenths of a mile of the route. The location of these lines need not be shown.

11. The names and addresses of the owners of rural water districts organized pursuant to Iowa Code chapter 357A that have facilities within six-tenths of a mile of the route. The location of these facilities need not be shown.

(2) A map of the entire route to be franchised if the route is located in more than one county or there is more than one map for a county.

c.Exhibit C. Technical information and engineering specifications describing typical materials, equipment and assembly methods as specified on forms provided by the commission.

d.Exhibit D. The exhibit shall consist of a written text containing the following:

(1) An affidavit with an allegation and supporting information that the transmission line is necessary to serve a public use and represents a reasonable relationship to an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public interest. Additional substantiated allegations as may be required by Iowa Code section 478.3(2) shall also be included.

(2) If the route or any portion thereof is not near and parallel to roads or railroad rights-of-way, or along division lines of the lands, according to government surveys, an explanation of why such parallel routing is not practicable or reasonable.

(3) A statement regarding the availability of routes on an existing electric line right-of-way and an explanation of why this route was not selected.

(4) Any other information or explanation in support of the petition.

(5) If a new franchise must be sought for an existing transmission line, historical information regarding the prior franchise.

(6) The status of any other authorizations the electric company is required to obtain to construct the proposed transmission line.

e.Exhibit E. This exhibit is required only if the petition requests the right of eminent domain. This exhibit shall be in its final form prior to issuance of the official notice by the commission and approval of the eminent domain notice required by Iowa Code section 478.6(2). The exhibit shall consist of a map of the route showing the location of each property for which the right of eminent domain is sought, and for each property:

(1) The legal description of the property.

(2) The legal description of the desired easement.

(3) A specific description of the easement rights being sought.

(4) The names and addresses of all affected persons.

(5) A map drawn to an appropriate scale showing the boundaries of the property, the boundaries and dimensions of the proposed easement, the location of all electric lines and supports within the proposed easement, the location of and distance to any building within 100 feet of the proposed transmission line, and any other features pertinent to the location of the transmission line, the supporting structures, or to the rights being sought.

(6) An affidavit affirming and describing the good-faith effort undertaken and the review of land records performed to identify all affected persons for all parcels over which the electric company is seeking eminent domain. The affidavit shall be signed by an attorney representing the electric company.

f.Exhibit F. The showing of notice to all persons identified in subparagraphs 11.5(1)"b"(6) through 11.5(1)"b"(11) and to the Iowa department of transportation. One copy of each letter of notification or one copy of the letter accompanied by a written statement listing all persons that were sent the notice, the date of mailing, and a copy of the map sent with the letters shall accompany the petition when it is filed with the commission.

g.Exhibit G. The affidavit required by Iowa Code section 478.3(2)"c" on the holding of an informational meeting. Copies of the mailed notice letter and the published notice(s) of each informational meeting shall be attached to the affidavit. This exhibit is required only if an informational meeting was conducted.

h.Exhibit H. This exhibit is required only if the petition requests separate pole lines. This exhibit shall contain a request describing in detail the good cause for the commission to authorize the construction of separate pole lines.

i.Other exhibits. The commission may require filing of additional exhibits if further information on a particular project is deemed necessary.

(2)Notice of franchise petition.

a. Whenever a petition for a new franchise is filed with the commission, the commission shall prepare a notice addressed to the citizens of each county through which the transmission line or lines extend. The electric company shall cause this notice to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each county for two consecutive weeks. Proof of publication shall be filed with the commission. This published notice shall constitute sufficient notice to all persons of the proceeding, except owners of record and persons in possession of land to be crossed for which voluntary easements have not been obtained at the time of the first publication of the notice.

b. The electric company shall, in addition to publishing notice, serve notice in writing of the filing of the petition on the affected persons over which easements have not been obtained. The served notices shall be by ordinary mail, addressed to the last-known address, mailed not later than the first day of publication of the official notice. One copy of each letter of notification, or one copy of the letter accompanied by a written statement listing all persons to which it was mailed and the date of mailing, shall be filed with the commission not later than five days after the date of second publication of the official notice. The electric company shall file a statement describing the action taken to ensure that the company has identified the names and addresses of all affected persons over which voluntary easements have not been obtained.

c. Published notices of petitions for franchise shall include provisions whereby interested persons can examine a map of the route. When the petition is filed, the electric company shall state whether a map is to be published with the notice or whether the notice is to include a telephone number and an address through which persons may request a map from the electric company at no cost. The map required by this paragraph need not be as detailed as the Exhibit B map but shall include at minimum the proposed route, section lines, section and township numbers, roads and railroads, city boundaries, and rivers and named bodies of water. A copy of this map shall be filed with the petition.

(3)Notice to other persons. The electric company shall give written notice, by ordinary mail, mailed at the time the petition is filed with the commission and accompanied by a map showing the route of the proposed electric transmission line, to the persons identified in subparagraphs 11.5(1)"b"(6) through 11.5(1)"b"(11) and to the Iowa department of transportation. One copy of each letter of notification or one copy of the letter accompanied by a written statement listing all persons that were sent the notice, the date of mailing, and a copy of the map sent with the letters shall accompany the petition when it is filed with the commission.

(4)Eminent domain notice. If an electric company is requesting the right of eminent domain over property as part of a petition for a new franchise, notice shall be provided pursuant to subrule 11.10(1).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-11.5

ARC 8435B, lAB 12/30/09, effective 2/3/10; Editorial change: lAC Supplement 12/29/10

Amended by IAB July 29, 2020/Volume XLIII, Number 3, effective 9/2/2020

Amended by IAB May 19, 2021/Volume XLIII, Number 24, effective 6/23/2021

Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/2024