Iowa Public Utilities Commission Grants Franchise Extension to Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative

Strategic Insights -

The Iowa Public Utilities Commission has approved an order granting an extension of franchise to Northwest Iowa Power Cooperative (NIPCO) for approximately 73.05 miles of 72,500-volt maximum voltage electric transmission line in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. The extension will allow NIPCO to maintain and operate existing transmission lines that have been previously constructed and are currently being operated and maintained.

Key Takeaways:

  • The franchise extension was granted on October 1, 2008, in response to NIPCO's petition filed on January 7, 2008, in Docket No. E-21911.
  • The extension covers approximately 73.05 miles of 72,500-volt maximum voltage electric transmission line in Pottawattamie County, Iowa.
  • NIPCO does not request authority to construct any new transmission lines, but only to extend existing franchises for transmission lines that have been previously constructed and are presently being operated and maintained.
  • The franchises to be extended are:

+ Franchise No. 15357, granted on April 11, 1983, in Docket No. E-19166

+ Franchise No. 17225, granted on August 18, 1997, in Docket No. E-21292

+ Franchise No. 17445, granted on August 3, 2001, in Docket No. E-21451

+ Franchise No. 17717, granted on March 31, 2006, in Docket No. E-21789

+ Franchise No. 17782, granted on February 26, 2007, in Docket No. E-21859

  • NIPCO has met the requirements of Iowa Code chapter 478 (2007) and 199 IAC 11, and is entitled to a franchise for the transmission line described in the petition.

Statistics:

  • Total length of transmission line to be extended: 73.05 miles
  • Maximum voltage of transmission line: 72,500 volts
  • Number of franchises to be extended: 5
  • Date of petition filing: January 7, 2008
  • Date of order granting extension: October 1, 2008

Sources:

  • ORDER GRANTING EXTENSION OF FRANCHISE, issued October 1, 2008.