19.1(1) Authorization of rules. Iowa Code
chapter 476 provides that the Iowa utilities commission shall establish
all needful, just and reasonable rules, not inconsistent with law, to
govern the exercise of its powers and duties, the practice and procedure
before it, and to govern the form, contents and filing of reports, documents
and other papers necessary to carry out the provisions of this law.
Iowa Code chapter 479 provides that the Iowa utilities commission shall
have full authority and power to promulgate rules as it deems proper and
expedient in the supervision of the transportation or transmission and
underground storage of gas within the state of Iowa.
The application of the rules in this chapter to municipally owned utilities
furnishing gas is limited by Iowa Code section 476.1B.
19.1(2) Application of rules. The rules shall apply to any gas utility operating within the state of Iowa as defined in Iowa Code chapter 476 and shall supersede any tariff on file with this commission which is in conflict with these rules. These rules are intended to promote safe and adequate service to the public, to provide standards for uniform and reasonable practices by utilities, and to establish a basis for determining the reasonableness of such demands as may be made by the public upon the utilities. A request to waive the application of any rule on a permanent or temporary basis may be made in accordance with rule 199-1.3(17A,474,476,). The adoption of these rules shall in no way preclude the commission from altering or amending them, pursuant to statute, or from making such modifications with respect to their application as may be found necessary to meet exceptional conditions. These regulations shall in no way relieve any utility from any of its duties under the laws of this state.
19.1(3) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in these rules shall have the meaning indicated below:
The abbreviations used, and their meanings, are
as follows:
Btu-British thermal unit
LP-Gas-Liquefied Petroleum Gas
psig-Pounds per Square Inch, Gauge
W.C.-Water Column
"Appliance" refers to any device which utilizes gas fuel to produce light, heat or power.
“CFR” means the Code of Federal Regulations, which contains the general administrative rules adopted by federal departments and agencies, in effect as of December 22, 2021, unless a separate effective date is identified in a specific rule.
"Complaint" as used in these rules is a statement or question by anyone, whether a utility customer or not, alleging a wrong, grievance, injury, dissatisfaction, illegal action or procedure, dangerous condition or action, or utility failure to fulfill an obligation.
"Cubic foot" of gas has the following meanings:
1. Where gas is supplied and metered to customers at the pressure (as defined in 19.7(2)) normally used for domestic customers' appliances, a cubic foot of gas shall be that quantity of gas which, at the temperature and pressure existing in the meter, occupies one cubic foot, except that where a temperature compensated meter is used, the temperature base shall be 60°F.
2. When gas is supplied to customers at other than the pressure in (1) above, the utility shall specify in its rules the base for measurement of a cubic foot of gas (see 19.2(4)"c"(6)). Unless otherwise stated by the utility, such cubic foot of gas shall be that quantity of gas which, at a temperature of 60°F and a pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute, occupies one cubic foot.
3. The standard cubic foot of gas for testing the gas itself for heating value shall be that quantity of gas, saturated with water vapor, which, at a temperature of 60°F and a pressure of 30 inches of mercury, occupies one cubic foot. (Temperature of mercury = 32°F acceleration due to gravity = 32.17 ft. per second per second density = 13.595 grams per cubic centimeter.)
"Customer" means any person, firm, association, or corporation, any agency of the federal, state or local government, or legal entity responsible by law for payment for the gas service or heat from the gas utility.
"Delinquent" or "delinquency" means an account for which a service bill or service payment agreement has not been paid in full on or before the last day for timely payment.
"Gas," unless otherwise specifically designated, means manufactured gas, natural gas, other hydrocarbon gases, or any mixture of gases produced, transmitted, distributed or furnished by any gas utility.
"Gas plant" means all facilities including all real estate, fixtures and property owned, controlled, operated or managed by a gas utility for the production, storage, transmission and distribution of gas and heat.
"Heating and calorific values." The following values shall be used:
1. "British thermal unit" (Btu) is the quantity of heat that must be added to one avoirdupois pound of pure water to raise its temperature from 58.5°F to 59.5°F under standard pressure.
2. "Dry calorific value" of a gas (total or net) is the value of the total or the net calorific value of the gas divided by the volume of dry gas in a standard cubic foot.
NOTE: The amount of dry gas in a standard cubic foot is .9826 cubic foot.
3. "Net calorific value" of a gas is the number of British thermal units evolved by the complete combustion, at constant pressure, of one standard cubic foot of gas with air, the temperature of the gas, air, and products of combustion being 60°F and all water formed by the combustion reaction remaining in the vapor state.
NOTE: The net calorific value of a gas is its total calorific value minus the latent heat of evaporation at standard temperature of the water formed by the combustion reaction.
4. "Therm" means 100,000 British thermal units.
5. "Total calorific value" of a gas is the number of British thermal units evolved by the complete combustion, at constant pressure, of one standard cubic foot of gas with air, the temperature of the gas, air and products of combustion being 60°F and all water formed by the combustion reaction condensed to the liquid state.
"Interruption of service" means any disturbance of the gas supply whereby gas service to a customer cannot be maintained.
"Loss factor" as used in rule 199-19.10(476) means test-year purchases less test-year sales. A five-year average of purchases less sales may be used if the test year is determined by the commission to be abnormal.
"Main" means a gas pipe, owned, operated, or maintained by a utility, which is used for the purpose of transmission or distribution of gas, but does not include "service line".
"Meter," without other qualification, shall mean any device or instrument which is used by a utility in measuring a quantity of gas.
"Meter shop" is a shop where meters are inspected, repaired and tested, and may be at a fixed location or may be mobile.
"Pressure," unless otherwise stated, is expressed in pounds per square inch above atmospheric pressure, i.e., gauge pressure (abbreviation-psig).
"Rate-regulated utility" means any utility as defined in the definition of "utility" below which is subject to rate regulation provided for in Iowa Code chapter 476.
"Service line" means a distribution line that transports gas from a common source of supply to a customer meter or the connection to a customer's piping, whichever is farther downstream, or the connection to a customer's piping if there is not a customer meter. A customer meter is the meter that measures the transfer of gas from a utility to a customer.
"Tap" or "town border station" means the delivery point or measuring station at which a gas distribution utility receives gas from a natural gas transmission company.
"Tariff" means the entire body of rates, tolls, rentals, charges, classifications, rules, procedures, policies, etc., adopted and filed with the commission by a gas utility in fulfilling its role of furnishing gas service.
"Timely payment" is a payment on a customer's account made on or before the date shown on a current bill for service or on a form which records an agreement between the customer and a utility for a series of partial payments to settle a delinquent account, as the date which determines application of a late payment charge to the current bill or future collection efforts.
"Utility" means any person, partnership, business association, or corporation, domestic or foreign, owning or operating any facilities for furnishing gas or heat to the public for compensation.
[ARC 6044C, IAB 11/17/21, effective 12/22/21; Editorial change: IAC Supplement 7/24/24]