Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

Iowa Code Title XI. Natural Resources [Chs. 455-485] § 476.18. Impermissible charges

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

1. Public utilities subject to rate regulation are prohibited from including either directly or indirectly in their charges or rates to customers the costs of lobbying.

2. Legal costs and attorney fees incurred by a public utility subject to rate regulation in an appeal in state or federal court involving the validity of any action of the board shall not be included either directly or indirectly in the public utility's charges or rates to customers except to the extent that recovery of legal costs and attorney fees is allowed by the board. The board shall allow a public utility to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees incurred in the appeal. The board may consider the degree of success of the legal arguments of the public utility in determining the reasonable legal costs and attorney fees to be allowed.

3. a. Public utilities subject to rate regulation are prohibited from including either directly or indirectly in their charges or rates to customers the costs of advertising other than advertising which is required by the board or by other state or federal regulation. However, this subsection does not apply to a utility's advertising which is deemed by the board to be necessary for the utility's customers and which is approved by the board.

b. Every ad which is published, broadcast, or otherwise displayed or disseminated to the public by a public utility which is to be charged to the customers of the public utility and which is not required by the board or by other state or federal regulation shall include a statement in the ad that the costs of the ad are being charged to the customers of the public utility. This paragraph does not apply to a utility's product or service that is or becomes subject to competition as determined by the board.

4. This section does not apply to a rural electric cooperative.

Previous Part of Code Next Part of Code
Back to Chapter List

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Iowa Code Title XI. Natural Resources [Chs. 455-485] § 476.18. Impermissible charges - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ia/title-xi-natural-resources-chs-455-485/ia-code-sect-476-18/

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw’s Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About The Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to Find an Attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard