Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-19.11

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

Rule 199-19.11 - Periodic review of gas procurement practices

(1)Procurement plan. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 476.6(11), the commission shall periodically conduct a contested case proceeding for the purpose of evaluating the reasonableness and prudence of a rate-regulated public utility's natural gas procurement and contracting practices. The commission shall provide the utilities 90 days' notice of the requirement to file a procurement plan. In the years in which the commission does not conduct a contested case proceeding, the commission may require the utilities to file certain information for the commission's review. In years in which the commission conducts a full proceeding, a rate-regulated utility shall file prepared direct testimony and exhibits in support of a detailed 12-month plan and a 3-year natural gas procurement plan. A utility's procurement plan shall be organized as follows and shall include:

a. An index of all documents and information filed in the plan and identification of the commission files in which documents incorporated by reference are located.

b. All contracts and gas supply arrangements executed or in effect for obtaining gas and all supply arrangements planned for the future 12-month and 3-year periods.

c. A description of the utility's natural gas forecasting, procurement, and contracting practices; available supply options; and other available services (e.g., storage services, balancing services).

d. An exhibit detailing the utility's current, 12-month, and 3-year forecasts of total annual throughput by customer class, peak day demand, and anticipated reserve margin on a PGA-year basis.

e. An organizational description of the officer or division responsible for gas procurement and a summary of operating procedures and policies for procuring and evaluating gas contracts.

f. A summary of the legal, regulatory, and commercial actions taken to minimize purchased gas costs.

g. Copies of all studies or investigation reports supporting the utility's testimony or materially considered by the utility in contracting decisions during the plan periods.

h. A complete list of all contracts in effect at the time of the procurement plan filing. The list shall include the contract term, the applicable service, and the contracted quantities.

i. A description of the supply options selected by the utility and an evaluation of the reasonableness and prudence of its contracting and procurement decisions. This evaluation should explain the relationship between forecast and procurement.

(2)Evaluation of the plan. The burden shall be on the utility to prove it is taking all reasonable actions to minimize its purchased gas costs. The commission will evaluate the reasonableness and prudence of the gas procurement plan.

(3)Disallowance of costs. The commission shall disallow any purchased gas costs in excess of costs incurred under responsible and prudent policies and practices. The PGA factor shall be adjusted prospectively to reflect the disallowance.

(4)Executive summary. On or before August 1 of each year, each natural gas utility shall file an executive summary and index of all standard and special contracts in effect for the purchase, sale or interchange of gas. The executive summary shall include the following information:

a. The contract number;

b. The start and end date;

c. The parties to the contract;

d. The total estimated dollar value of the contract;

e. A description of the type of service offered (including volumes and price).

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 476.6(11).

Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-19.11

Amended by IAB November 8, 2017/Volume XL, Number 10, effective 12/13/2017

Amended by IAB November 17, 2021/Volume XLIV, Number 10, effective 12/22/2021

Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/2024