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

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 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.