Iowa Code § 476.33 — IA Code / Title XI / Chapter 476 / Section 476.33
Rules governing hearings.
Status: in_force

(1) The commission shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to provide for the completion of proceedings under section 476.3 within ten months after the date of the filing of a petition under section 476.3, subsection 2, and to provide for the completion of proceedings under section 476.6 within ten months after the date of filing of the new or changed rates, charges, schedules, or regulations under that section. These rules shall include reasonable time limitations for the submission or completion of comments and testimony, and exhibits, briefs, and hearings, and may provide for the granting of additional time upon the request of a party to the proceeding for good cause shown.

(2) Additional time granted to a party under subsection 1 shall not extend the amount of time for which a utility is required to file a bond or other undertaking conditioned upon refund under section 476.3, subsection 2.

(3) If in a proceeding under section 476.6 additional time is granted to a party under subsection 1, the commission may extend the ten-month period during which a utility is prohibited from placing its entire rate increase request into effect under section 476.6, but an extension shall not exceed the aggregate amount of all additional time granted under subsection 1.

(4) The commission shall adopt rules that require the commission, in rate regulatory proceedings under sections 476.3 and 476.6, to utilize either a historic test year or a future test year at the rate-regulated public utility’s discretion.

(4) (a) For a rate regulatory proceeding utilizing a historic test year, the rules shall require the commission to consider the use of the most current test period possible in determining reasonable and just rates, subject only to the availability of existing and verifiable data respecting costs and revenues, and in addition, to consider verifiable data that exists within nine months after the conclusion of the test year, respecting known and measurable changes in costs not associated with a different level of revenue, and known and measurable revenues not associated with a different level of costs, that are to occur at any time within twelve months after the date of commencement of the proceedings. Parties proposing adjustments that are not verifiable at the commencement of the proceedings shall include projected data related to the adjustments in their initial substantive filing with the commission. For purposes of this paragraph, a proceeding commences under section 476.6 upon the filing date of new or changed rates, charges, schedules, or regulations.

(4) (b) For a rate regulatory proceeding utilizing a future test year, the rules shall require the commission to consider the use of any twelve-month period beginning no later than the date on which a proposed rate change is expected to take effect in determining just and reasonable rates. The rules shall also require the commission to conduct a proceeding subsequent to the effective date of a rate resulting from a rate regulatory proceeding utilizing a future test year to determine whether the actual costs and revenues are reasonably consistent with those approved by the commission. If the actual costs and revenues are not reasonably consistent with those approved by the commission, the commission shall adjust the rates accordingly. For a rate regulatory proceeding utilizing a future test year, the commission may adopt rules regarding evidence required, information to support forecasts, and any reporting obligations. The commission may also adopt rules regarding the conditions under which a public utility that utilizes a future test year may subsequently utilize a historic test year. A public utility shall not be precluded from filing a rate regulatory proceeding utilizing a future test year prior to the adoption of any rules pursuant to this subsection.

(4) (c) This subsection does not limit the authority of the commission to consider other evidence in proceedings under sections 476.3 and 476.6.

[81 Acts, ch 156, §3]83 Acts, ch 127, §32, 33; 89 Acts, ch 97, §2; 90 Acts, ch 1168, §52; 2003 Acts, ch 179, §134; 2004 Acts, ch 1006, §2; 2018 Acts, ch 1135, §17; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §369