Iowa Admin. Code r. 199-21.8 - Applications for water costs for fire protection services
(1)
Definition. For purposes
of this rule, "water costs for fire protection service" shall be defined as all
or a part of the utility's costs of fire hydrants and other improvements,
maintenance, and operations for the purpose of providing adequate water
production, storage, and distribution for public fire protection, as reflected
in the utility's current tariff for public fire protection water
service.
(2)
Utility
requirements. A utility which provides public fire protection water
service to a city preparing an application pursuant to subrule 21.8(3) shall
provide the city all necessary information and affidavits to enable the city to
meet its application filing requirements.
(3)
Application contents.
Any city filing an application with the board requesting inclusion of all or a
part of the water costs for fire protection service in a utility's rates or
charges to customers covered by the city's fire protection service shall
submit, at the time the application is filed, the following information with
supporting testimony:
a. A statement showing
(1) the proposed method of allocating costs to affected customers, and (2) both
the proposed per-customer rate increase and the average percentage increase by
customer class, based on the utility's current tariff, if the costs for fire
protection water service are included in rates charged to affected
customers;
b. Copies of all bills
rendered to the city by the utility for public fire protection water service
during the preceding 24-month period;
c. The current number of utility customers
served within the city's corporate limits, by customer class, with an affidavit
from the utility verifying the information;
d. A map illustrating both (1) the city's
corporate limits, and (2) the portion of the utility's customer service area
within the city's corporate limits, with an affidavit from the utility
verifying the customer service area;
e. An affidavit from the utility showing that
the notice required by Iowa Code section
476.6(14)
"c" and subrule 21.8(4) has been provided and paid for by the
applicant and mailed by the utility to all affected
customers.
(4)
Customer notification.
a.
Prior approval. The city shall file with the board for its
approval, not less than 30 days before providing notification to affected
customers, a copy of the proposed notice.
b.
Required content of
notification. The notice shall advise affected customers of the
proposed increase in rates and charges, the proposed effective date of the
increase, and the percentage increase by customer class. It shall advise
customers that the city is requesting the increase and that customers have the
right to file with the board a written objection to the proposed increase and
to request a public hearing. It shall also include a written explanation of the
reason for the increase.
c.
Notice of deficiencies. Within 30 days of the filing of the
proposed notice, the city shall be notified either of the approval of the
notice or of any deficiencies in the notice and the corrective measures
required for approval.
d.
Distribution. The city shall provide to the utility, for
mailing, a sufficient number of copies of the approved notice. The city shall
direct the utility either to (1) include the notice with the utility's next
regularly scheduled mailing to the affected customers; or (2) make a separate
mailing of the notice to affected customers within 30 days of receiving from
the city the requisite number of copies of the notice. The city shall pay all
expenses incurred by the utility in providing notice to affected customers. The
utility may require payment prior to the mailing.
e.
Delivery. The written
notice to affected customers shall be mailed or delivered by the utility not
more than 90 days before the application is filed and no later than the date
the application is filed.
(5)
Procedure.
a.
Filing of application.
The applicant shall file the application with the board.
b.
Docketing. Within 30 days
of the filing of the application, the board shall either approve the
application or docket the case as a formal proceeding and establish a
procedural schedule.
c.
Rules. If the case is docketed as a formal proceeding, the
rules in 199-Chapter 7, if not inconsistent, shall apply.
d.
Decision. The board shall
render its decision within six months of the date of the application. If the
application is approved, the board shall order the utility providing the water
service to the city to file tariffs implementing the board's decision. The
utility shall include annually a bill insert explaining to customers that they
are being charged for water-related fire protection costs. The city shall pay
all costs incurred by the utility to file and implement the required
tariff.
Notes
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