§ 478.31 — Temporary permits for lines less than one mile

Iowa § 478.31

• Jurisdiction: Iowa
• Title XI: NATURAL RESOURCES
• Ch. 478: ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES

Text

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 478.1, any person, company, or corporation
proposing to construct an electric transmission line not exceeding one mile in length and
whichdoesnotinvolvethetakingofpropertyundertherightofeminentdomainmayobtaina

temporary construction permit from the utilities commission by proceeding in the manner set
forth in this section. The person, company, or corporation shall first file with the commission
a verified petition setting forth the requirements of section 478.3, subsection 1, paragraphs
“a” through “h”, with the further allegation that the petitioner is the nearest electric utility to
the proposed point of service.
2. The petition shall also state that the filing thereof constitutes an application for a
temporary construction permit and shall also have endorsed thereon the approval of the
appropriate highway authority or railroad concerned if such line is to be constructed over,
across, or along a public highway or railroad.
3. Upon receipt of the petition, the utilities commission shall consider same and may
grant a temporary construction permit in whole or in part or upon such terms, conditions,
and restrictions, and with such modifications as to location as may seem to it just and
proper. A finding of public use shall not be made at the time of the issuance of the permit,
but shall be made, if substantiated by petitioner, at the subsequent consideration of the
propriety of granting a franchise for the line subject to the permit. The signature of one
utilities commission member on the permit shall be sufficient. The issuance of the permit
shall constitute temporary authority for the permit holder to construct the line for which the
permit is granted.
4. Uponthegrantingofsuchtemporaryconstructionpermit,theutilitiescommissionshall
cause the publication of notice required by section 478.5 and all other requirements shall
be complied with as in the manner provided for the granting of a franchise. If a hearing
is required, then the petitioner shall make a sufficient and proper showing thereat before a
franchise will be issued for the line. Any franchise issued will be subject to all applicable
provisions of this chapter.
5. Notwithstanding subsections 1 through 4, if the utilities commission shall determine
that a franchise should not be granted, or that further restrictions, conditions, or
modifications are required, or if the petitioner shall fail to make a sufficient and proper
showing of the necessity for the granting of a franchise within six months of the granting
of the temporary construction permit, the permit issued hereunder shall become null and
void and the permit holder may be required to take such action deemed necessary by the
commission to remove, modify, or relocate the construction undertaken by virtue of the
temporary permit issued hereunder.

Legislative History

[C66, 71, 73, 75, §489.31; C77, 79, 81, §478.31]