Bill
Bill > SF2308
summary
Introduced
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
In Committee
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill relates to certain charges for utility service. The bill provides legislative findings stating that water, electricity, and natural gas are essential services, that utility customers generally lack choice due to the monopolistic nature of service territories, that utility bills increasingly include nonusage fees that significantly increase costs without increasing service, and that such nonusage fees place a burden on Iowa residents. The bill prohibits a public utility from imposing, collecting, or billing any nonusage fee or surcharge to a customer, and provides that a utility bill may include only charges based on actual consumption and late payment charges. The bill prohibits a public utility from conditioning the provision or continuation of service on the payment of a nonusage fee. The bill prohibits utilities from charging customers, through any method, for franchise fees or similar payments made to a municipality or governmental entity. The bill directs the Iowa utilities commission to adopt rules to implement and enforce the new bill and to review all existing tariffs, rate schedules, and billing practices for compliance. Any tariff, rule, or billing practice inconsistent with the bill is void. The bill provides enforcement mechanisms for violations, including administrative penalties determined by the commission, refunds or bill credits to affected customers, and enforcement actions by the attorney general. Each billing statement containing a prohibited fee constitutes a separate violation. The bill applies to certain public utilities, including those that are otherwise not subject to full rate regulation by the utilities commission.
AI Summary
This bill, concerning utility service charges, establishes that water, electricity, and natural gas are essential services and that customers typically have no choice in providers due to the monopolistic nature of utility territories. It finds that utility bills increasingly include nonusage fees, which are charges not tied to actual service consumption, and that these fees significantly increase costs without providing more service, placing a burden on Iowa residents. The bill prohibits public utilities from imposing, collecting, or billing any nonusage fee or surcharge, meaning utility bills can only include charges for actual consumption and late payments. It also prevents utilities from making the provision or continuation of service dependent on paying such fees and prohibits utilities from passing on any franchise fees or similar payments made to municipalities or governmental entities to customers, requiring utilities to bear these costs themselves. The Iowa Utilities Commission, or "commission," is directed to create rules to enforce these provisions and review all existing utility tariffs, rate schedules, and billing practices for compliance, declaring any inconsistent practices void. Violations will result in penalties, refunds or bill credits to affected customers, and potential enforcement actions by the attorney general, with each billing statement containing a prohibited fee considered a separate violation. This bill applies to various public utilities, including those not typically under full rate regulation by the commission.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Subcommittee: Koelker, Drey, and Reichman. S.J. 314. (on 02/18/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF2308 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/SF2308.html |
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