Iowa Utilities Board Approves Amendment to Electric Transmission Line Franchise

Strategic Insights -

The Iowa Utilities Board has issued an order granting Corn Belt Power Cooperative an amendment to its electric transmission line franchise. The amendment adds 10.47 miles of existing 69 kV electric transmission line from Docket No. E-20950 to Docket No. E-21515. The total length of the franchised transmission line will be 58.66 miles of 69 kV electric transmission line.

This decision was made after a thorough review of the petition filed by Corn Belt Power Cooperative on December 2, 2021. The cooperative alleged that the existing electric transmission line continues to be necessary as part of the electric transmission system in the area and that it allows Corn Belt to provide electric transmission services to its members.

The Utilities Board found that the petition and petition exhibits filed by Corn Belt substantially comply with Board rules in 199 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) chapters 11 and 25 and Iowa Code chapter 478. The Board also found that the 69 kV electric transmission line is necessary to serve a public use and represents a reasonable relationship to an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public interest.

The amendment does not extend the existing franchise that was issued on May 21, 2002. It is effective as of the date of this order.

Key Takeaways:

  • Corn Belt Power Cooperative has been granted an amendment to its electric transmission line franchise.
  • The amendment adds 10.47 miles of existing 69 kV electric transmission line from Docket No. E-20950 to Docket No. E-21515.
  • The total length of the franchised transmission line will be 58.66 miles of 69 kV electric transmission line.
  • The Utilities Board found that the petition and petition exhibits filed by Corn Belt substantially comply with Board rules and Iowa Code chapter 478.
  • The Board also found that the 69 kV electric transmission line is necessary to serve a public use and represents a reasonable relationship to an overall plan of transmitting electricity in the public interest.
  • The amendment does not extend the existing franchise that was issued on May 21, 2002.
  • Corn Belt Power Cooperative alleged that the existing electric transmission line continues to be necessary as part of the electric transmission system in the area.
  • The electric transmission line allows Corn Belt to provide electric transmission services to its members.

Statistics:

  • 58.66 miles: The total length of the franchised transmission line after the amendment.
  • 10.47 miles: The length of the existing 69 kV electric transmission line added to the franchise.
  • 2 weeks: The duration of notice published for the petition in Emmet County on May 26 and June 2, 2022.
  • 28: The number of probable violations identified by Board Safety and Engineering staff on February 15, 2022.
  • 0.01 miles: The length of the unfranchised electric transmission line that was transferred from ITC Midwest on March 24, 2016.
  • 69 kV: The voltage of the electric transmission line.

Sources:

  • STATE OF IOWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE UTILITIES BOARD IN RE: CORN BELT POWER COOPERATIVE DOCKET NO. E-21515 ORDER GRANTING AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINE FRANCHISE
  • Iowa Code chapter 478
  • 199 Iowa Administrative Code (IAC) chapters 11 and 25