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Facebook and Google Resist Motion to Cancel Hearing in Iowa Utilities Case

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Facebook and Google have submitted a response to a motion filed by MidAmerican Energy Company to suspend the procedural schedule and cancel a hearing in an Iowa Utilities Board docket. The tech giants support suspending the schedule but resist canceling the hearing, citing procedures that allow non-settling parties to file comments on a proposed settlement. The hearing would provide the Iowa Utilities Board with valuable insights to determine whether to approve the settlement, potentially affecting the interests of non-settling parties, including the Office of Consumer Advocate and other stakeholders.

Key Takeaways:

  • Facebook and Google support suspending the procedural schedule in the Iowa Utilities Board docket EPB-2020-0156.
  • The tech giants resist canceling the hearing scheduled in this matter as premature, citing Board rules that provide non-settling parties with 14 days to file comments on the proposed settlement.
  • The Office of Consumer Advocate is a division of the Department of Justice and is involved in the settlement agreement filed by MidAmerican and the OCA.
  • The Board should merely suspend the procedural schedule at this time and rule on the motion to cancel the hearing at a future date, according to Facebook and Google.
  • The Tech Customers request that the Iowa Utilities Board grant MidAmerican's motion to suspend the procedural schedule but decline to rule on the motion to cancel the hearing until it may be appropriately addressed.

Statistics:

  • The Iowa Utilities Board docket in question is EPB-2020-0156.
  • The procedural schedule was filed by MidAmerican on February 4, 2021.
  • The proposed settlement agreement was filed by MidAmerican and the OCA on an unspecified date.
  • The Office of Consumer Advocate is a division of the Department of Justice.

Sources:

  • Iowa Public Utilities Commission, STATE OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE UTILITIES DIVISION, Illinois, IN RE: MIDAMERICAN ENERGY COMPANY, DOCKET NO. EPB-2020-0156, RESPONSE TO "MOTION TO SUSPEND PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE AND CANCEL HEARING"
  • Iowa Utilities Board, EPB-2020-0156, FEBRUARY 10, 2021

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